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

I agree with the Deputy on one thing, which I made clear last night: the interest rates charged to farmers in Ireland - and agriculture represents a very large percentage of the loan book in all three of our pillar banks that lend to agriculture - are not as competitive as they should be. If we could get EIB funding into Ireland, we may be able to force this down through competition, which is the most likely way to get a significant reaction.

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