Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

I do, and it concerns funding from banks. Someone who contacted me this morning has secured a grant from BIM to expand his shellfish business. This grant accounts for 50% of the sum yet he cannot secure the other 50% from the bank and so he cannot expand his business and create more employment. I assure the Leader that BIM would not grant funding to the company if it was not viable. However, the banks cannot see fit to match the funding. I ask the Leader and the Minister to do everything they can to secure funding for small businesses that are creating jobs. Something must happen soon.

Senator Whelan raised a related issue. Does a code of practice exist for receivers when a business goes into receivership? I know of one business in my locality that has been in receivership for 15 months. The business has not been closed for a single day in the time the receiver has been in situ. Another business in my locality was closed down on the first day of receivership, two months ago. Is there direction for receivers when they take over a business in terms of how they delegate and carry out their functions?