Jobs Committee to discuss lending to small business and job creation

Chairman of the Committee Deputy Damien English said: “There have been a number of conflicting reports on the incidence of bank lending in recent months. In August, the Central Bank said that Irish banks had the second lowest approval level for loans to small businesses in the euro area, a report which was rejected by the Irish Banking Federation. More recently the Credit Review Office said it has overturned 96 cases where banks have refused credit, while anecdotally, many businesses, particularly small businesses and start-ups, say they are finding it difficult to access credit. Our meeting tomorrow with the Credit Review Office and the Irish Banking Federation will help us to consider in detail the issues surrounding SME lending by the banks and to determine what the situation is regarding lending by financial institutions

The Committee meeting will begin at 1.30pm in Committee Room 2, Leinster House on Tuesday, 12th November.

Following this meeting, representatives from Chambers Ireland will address the Committee on creating the best environment for job creation and sustainability.

“The creation of jobs and the promotion of enterprise is probably the greatest issue facing the country today. This Committee has a key role to play in providing a meaningful input into legislation and policy and informing debate on the creation and retention of jobs and promoting and supporting enterprise and innovation. Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to get the perspectives of business representative organisation Chambers Ireland on the measures it feels are necessary to establish the best environment for creating sustainable jobs.”

This meeting will start at 3pm in Committee Room 2.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership
Deputies: Dara Calleary, Áine Collins, Michael Conaghan, Damien English (Chair), John Halligan, Seán Kyne, Anthony Lawlor, John Lyons (Vice-Chair) and Peadar Tóibín.
Senators: Deirdre Clune, David Cullinane, John Kelly, Michael Mullins, Feargal Quinn and Mary White