Ministers haul in AIB over loans

AIB was hauled before key government ministers last night to explain their failure to lend enough money to support business.

Bank chairman Dan O’Connor and chief executive, Colm Doherty met with Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, and Enterprise Minister, Batt O’Keeffe, to discuss the findings of regional meetings held by government representatives with business bodies.

One of the key findings was that AIB was not playing ball and that small and medium-sized businesses were being pushed to the limit by AIB’s failure to give loans to support their day-to-day activities.