Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand there are considerable delays in getting stocking loans from the banks so that by the time one gets such a loan one probably will have been forced to sell the stock. What steps are being taken to ensure the banks make decisions speedily? Second, can the Minister confirm the continuation of the beef suckler cow welfare and the sheep grassland schemes? Third, what steps has the Minister taken to ensure competition in the market by increasing live exports to break the power of the factories to doctor prices when there is a glut on the market? For example, hill sheep under a certain weight are not saleable in factories at present because the factories pick and choose as it suits them. What steps has the Minister taken to ensure there will not be a collapse in the market, such as we have seen in recent weeks?

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