Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I support Senator O'Toole's comments on loans. Regardless of whether we part own any of the banks, I do not want the Government to instruct them to give money to certain small businesses. Of course, we want credit to be extended to small and medium-sized enterprises. On the other hand, we do not want people to direct that money be given to such enterprises or any other business. Allowing such behaviour to occur would bring about the end of banking and also the making of sensible business decisions. The question of the extension of credit must be considered in a different way. Let us ensure the banks in which we have a stake are run on a commercial basis.

In December I raised the topic of America's insistence that 100% container scanning be introduced from July 2012. The introduction of the necessary equipment will give rise to major costs because the US authorities have indicated that from July 2012 any container entering that jurisdiction will first have to be scanned at its port of origin. Such equipment will not be put in place at US ports to scan items for export. This will have a major effect on international trade and prove to be a major disadvantage to countries in Europe and others. I understand the need for the United States to introduce the relevant security measures. In that context, this matter will probably be resolved at European rather than national level. I, therefore, urge the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan, to discover what we must do to ensure Irish jobs will be protected.