Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 201: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food the initiatives he will to take to improve the credit situation for farmers and to prevent banks imposing penal surcharges when farmers run into temporary financial difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17779/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have had meetings with the banking sector in recent months and my officials are in regular contact with them to discuss current challenges for credit availability in the agriculture and food sector. Farmers who are not satisfied with the service provided by their banks can ask for an internal review by the relevant bank and if they are still not satisfied can apply to the credit review office to have their case reviewed. Some of the banks have been involved recently in organising information sessions and conferences to explain the credit facilities available in the sector. They also provide information online, via the Irish Banking Federation, as to the type of information that they require when making a decision on a loan request in the agriculture sector.