Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The MEP in question is absolutely entitled to his own opinion and to write whatever letters he sees fit, but I can confirm that it is not Government policy - far from it. The Government is encouraging banks to lend money to young farmers. In fact, my Department runs schemes that help to guarantee those loans. It is Government policy that banks should lend to young farmers. We want to encourage young people into agriculture and food production. We want them to invest in expanding and modernising their farms. Indeed, younger farmers, in particular, who understand the need to take climate action, know that that costs money and requires up-front investment. How are they going to do that without loans from the banks?

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