Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not start to give assurances one way or the other in regard to schemes for next year because that is a budget debate and I will not make early budget promises. However, I am very conscious of the importance of schemes for farmers' incomes and will try to protect them as best I can. I will not make absolute claims at this stage, however, three months away from the budget.

In regard to what the Deputy termed State-controlled banks, we may own them but we do not entirely control them. Banks make decisions on the basis of business plans and proposals around loans. I am no apologist for banks but I can tell the Deputy I am pushing them as hard as I can to try to prioritise agriculture-----

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