Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I join others in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. In regard to this subject, we know that the heart of the Minister of State is in the right place. His appointment by the Taoiseach was one with which everyone heartily concurred.

We are in difficult times. My colleague referred to banks, an area where there is genuine difficulty and some confusion about what is available. The Government put in place a plan that banks had to have €30 billion available over the coming three years. There is not much evidence of this money flowing to small businesses. I have great time for Mr. John Trethowan, the credit controller, but the limit on sums that can be referred to him, €250,000, should be increased immediately to €500,000. I believe a request has been made to this effect. I have no doubt Mr. Trethowan is prepared to take this on. He is a fair and reasonable practitioner in the prudent sense. Many cowboys invaded banking in recent times but he is not one of them. I will not say he is a strict northerner but he will not allow banks to incur bad debts. There must be great prudence in weighing up matters but businesses that have existed for years are being pressured by the lack of availability of credit. We have all heard of instances where banks cut back on an existing facility that has been in place for years. It was a normal seasonal matter for one business that I have in mind. That is unreasonable and it must be halted.

There are serious difficulties with rent reviews for small businesses. Initially, there were great difficulties in that regard but the landlords, particularly in provincial town Ireland, saw sense quickly. There are so many units lying idle in the streets of our towns that the landlords reduced rents after dialogue and negotiation. They were correct to do so. Who wants an empty house? Holding onto the tenant or the shopkeeper at a reduced rent is worthwhile. A year or so ago the opposite was happening but I do not think it is happening now. People are anxious to hold on to businesses.

One of the greatest causes of damage to small businesses in Ireland, particularly retail businesses in provincial towns, was bad planning. As a result of out-of-town developments, planners and developers are responsible for the empty shops in main streets and side streets of any town in Ireland. This is because of what was allowed to go out of town and this has caused job losses and untold damage in towns. I appeal to the Minister of State to use his good offices to have the situation addressed.