ISME calls for accurate figures on bank lending

ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, wants the Government to force banks to publish full and accurate figures on new and additional bank lending.

The recent report on the €6bn lending target, set by the late Minister Brian Lenihan, was incomplete and did not give a clear and accurate figure of “new and additional lending” as required by Government.

Mark Fielding, chief executive of ISME, who has been a strong critic of bank lending policy since the bank meltdown, said the government risked being tainted by the deception the bank’s have engaged in since the credit crisis began. The credit reviewer admitted he did not get the specific data from the two rescued banks to report accurately, he said.