Sinn Fein is calling on the government to put pressure on Irish banks to lend to businesses.

A new report from the Central Bank shows that Ireland has the second highest rate of credit rejections for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

1-in-4 SMEs say their applications for loans are turned down compared to one-in-28 in Germany.

Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toibin says dysfunctional Irish banks are failing small businesses.

“The whole policy so far of this government has been around the need to secure the banking industry” hen said.

“In reality the banking policy of the government needs to change – it needs to be around securing the real economy”.

“That’s the economy where people open shops, sell products, manufacture, create services and create jobs”.

“But those people are being completely let down” he added.

Over 100 volunteers have turned out to resume the search for missing Co. Wicklow teenager James Sheehan.

The 18-year-old was last seen leaving a nightclub in Arklow at around 2:40am on Sunday morning.

James is described as being 6-foot-2 in height and of athletic build and with short, tightly cut red hair.

Gardaí say they are taking his disappearance very seriously.

The Garda Water Unit, Boyne River Rescue and Civil Defence are all involved today.

Gardaí are appealing to members of the public to allow trained personnel search potential risk areas like the reed beds at the Avoca River for safety reasons.

A team of 25 officers have been assigned to the search.

Speaking to East Coast FM Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Fitzgerald says it is a very difficult time for James’s family.

“At this stage there are no leads whatsoever” he said.

“Unfortunetly the family – I mean it’s a dreadful time for the family – his father and mother, and his relations”.

“This is the 4th night James hasn’t been at home, and it’s a dreadful time for the family” he added.

A man accused of killing journalist Eugene Moloney has been remanded for a further 4 weeks for service of the book of evidence.

21-year-old trainee mechanic Gary Burch of Kennington Close in Templeogue has been charged with manslaughter.

The 55-year-old journalist received a blow to the head  while walking home on Camden Street in Dublin city centre in the early hours of the morning on June 24th.

Gary Burch is due to be sent forward for trial at his next appearance at Dublin District Court on September 19^th.

A suspected chlorine gas leak on Dublin’s north-side has been brought under control.

Emergency services attended the scene at the Molloy and Sherry refridgerated transport HQ on Bond Street in Dublin 3.

Officials have now stopped the leak which is understood to have been coming from a vessel at the rear of a building.

A number of people were evacuated from buildings in the vicinity while the operation was carried out but no one has been injured.

Gardaí are at the scene and diverting traffic in the area.

Gardaí have launched a manhunt for three men who violently attacked a 28-year-old man in Mullhuddart Co. Dublin last night.

A post mortem will be carried out on his body to establish a cause of death but it is believed he suffered fatal stab wounds.

At around 12am last night there was a knock on the door of the terraced house where the victim was staying with his girlfriend.

It is understood 3 men were waiting outside and launched a vicious attack on the father of one before escaping on foot.

The dead man’s girlfriend climbed over a back wall and screamed for help for her partne who was left for dead on the pavement outside.

The 28 year-old who was from the Drumheath area was pronounced dead less than an hour later in hospital.

Gardaí are appealing for help from the public in identifying the 3 suspects who ran from the scene through the neighbouring Drumheath estate.