Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome the positive news about the credit being made available to SMEs and the farming community. However, I urge the Government not to concentrate the funds coming from KfW in the two pillar banks. We need choice in the banking system because a responsible banking sector will only come about as a result of competition. We need more players in the market. By concentrating the KfW funds in the two pillar banks we would create the risk of setting back the banking industry and the sector for years. That would ultimately stunt economic growth. I ask the Minister of State to pass my concerns to the Minister for Finance in order that they can be taken into consideration in discussions that take place in the coming weeks.