More credit needed for small firms, says Martin

MICHEÁL MARTIN has admitted more pressure needs to be put on the banks to help small businesses.

The Fianna Fáil leader said yesterday that the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises to the economy “cannot be overestimated”.

But many small firms have suffered hugely since the banks needed rescuing by the state in 2008, as the troubled financial institutions have proved reluctant to issue new credit to them.