Conference: Financing SMEs in Economic Recovery

Venue: ESRI, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 

The ESRI will hold a half-day conference focusing on the bank and non-bank financing environment of SMEs in economic recovery. The research presented aims to contribute to a policy environment that facilitates a smooth recovery in the SME sector. The event will include presentations on the empirical patterns determining SME financing structures in Ireland and Europe and evaluation of international and domestic evidence on the appropriate policy response to SME funding challenges. Speakers will include: Annalisa Ferrando (European Central Bank), Tara McIndoe-Calder (Central Bank of Ireland), Conor O’Toole (ESRI) and Martina Lawless (ESRI). There will also be a roundtable discussion on policy implications of the research findings.   

PROGRAMME 

08.30 Registration and Coffee 

09.00 Welcome: Professor Frances Ruane, Director, ESRI 

09.05 Opening Address: Simon Harris, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance 

SESSION 1 

Evidence on SME Financing: Ireland in a European Perspective Chair: Fergal McCann, Central Bank of Ireland 

09.30 Which Firms Apply for Credit in the Euro Area? Annalisa Ferrando, European Central Bank

10.00 SME Financing Landscape in Ireland: A Comparative Perspective Conor O’Toole, Economic and Social Research Institute

10.30 Tea/Coffee 

SESSION 2 

Policy Objectives and Supports for Funding SMEs Chair: Niall O'Donnellan, Enterprise Ireland 

11.00 SME Default in Ireland Tara McIndoe-Calder, Central Bank Ireland

11.30 Policy Options for SME Financing in Ireland Martina Lawless, Economic and Social Research Institute

SESSION 3 

12.00 Roundtable discussion Chair: John Hogan, Department of Finance Participants: Loretta O’Sullivan (BoI), Patricia Callan (Small Firms Association), John O’Sullivan (ACT Venture Capital), Nick Ashmore (SBCI), Garrett Murray (Enterprise Ireland) 

12.50 Closing Remarks John Hogan, Department of Finance