Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We appreciate the work of the Minister in arranging this invaluable loan initiative. It came about as a result of the crisis in the dairy sector, which seems to be getting resolved.

I support Deputy McConalogue in respect of this issue. The concern is that no matter what bank one approaches, the person with the best accounts for the previous year will get priority, and that has to be agreed here. The Minister mentioned that the tillage sector wants everything. We know there has been a collapse in crop prices but there is part of the tillage sector which had no crops to harvest last year. Some farmers did not even sow any crops so they cannot generate income. The concern is that the Minister is not focusing on the tillage sector, where there was a major mishap. I understand the concern about the collapse in prices in the grain sector, which we all accept is bad for the economy. However, part of the sector has experienced a total reduction in its income. I cannot see how farmers can go to any of the banks to ask for loans.

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