Farmer bank debt cases
Deputy Mattie McGrath raised banks, especially AIB, pursuing farmers and contractors through the courts and refusing to engage on settlements. The Tánaiste said he could not comment on individual cases but pointed to recent Government initiatives and budget measures to provide low-cost finance and support farmers.
The Tánaiste comes from a farming background and there is a commitment in the programme for Government to support our agricultural industry. The banks, especially AIB, are persecuting and not engaging with farmers and contractors who have serious borrowing issues and are before the courts. They refuse to deal with people like me and other Deputies or any intermediary. They want to drag people through the courts at enormous expense. I know a farmer from north Cork who has been dragged through the courts over a couple of years and wants to make a settlement but the bank will not engage or talk and will not accept a mediator. This is totally unacceptable. It has been happening to numerous farmers and business people. We own the blooming bank. Why can we not put some kind of manners on it? It is not getting much solace in the courts but will not listen to mediators. Where offers are made it will not engage. It is waiting to sell to vulture funds. What is going on is scandalous.
