Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I welcome former Senator and Deputy Seamus Cullimore and his group to the Visitors Gallery. It is nice to see him still active in public life.

Senators Frances Fitzgerald, Joe O'Toole, Alex White, Dan Boyle, Paul Coghlan, Marc McSharry, Feargal Quinn, Ann Ormonde, John Hanafin, Eugene Regan, David Norris, Niall Ó Brolcháin, Jerry Buttimer, Mary White, Jim Walsh, Paschal Donohoe, Labhrás Ó Murchú, Maurice Cummins and Mark Daly all called for an urgent debate on the lack of credit, particularly for small businesses, and the possibility of setting up a friendly bank. In the 1970s and 1980s we had the Agricultural Credit Corporation for the farming community and the Industrial Credit Corporation for the business community. We are in a different situation today.

Because the Finance Bill is being debated in the Dáil it is difficult to have a Minister come to the Seanad this evening or tomorrow. However, it is with urgency that the request has been made and colleagues on all sides of the House agree with it. I will review the situation and come back to the House tomorrow morning, as a matter of urgency on this matter. Senators have my solemn word and commitment in that regard. I cannot deliver a Minister for Finance today when the Finance Bill is being debated in the Dáil and it is urgent that he be present in the House. The country faces no greater challenge than the 800,000 small and medium enterprises which are clinging on by their nails in their attempt to keep people employed. We understand the seriousness of this situation, particularly those of us who are from the business world and on a day when a business man takes his seat in Seanad Éireann.

I will endeavour to have this debate take place at the earliest opportunity and within a matter of days rather than a week. I cannot do so when the Finance Bill is being debated in the Dáil. I will come back to the House tomorrow morning with a firm date for an entire day's debate on how we can get credit flowing for small businesses.