| IFA Deputy President Eddie Downey has said there is strong resolve among farmers around the country and in all sectors that Ulster Bank must face up to its responsibilities over the €300,000 losses suffered by vegetable growers in the north-east following the bank’s forced sale of Groomes Vegetable Suppliers (GVS) in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. Eddie Downey said “according to media reports, Ulster Bank is recovering €1.3m from the GVS receiver they appointed, while they have left growers and their families with nothing”. The IFA Deputy President said “Ulster Bank is effectively grabbing payments due from retailers for fresh produce supplied by the 20 growers concerned, while leaving the growers themselves with individual losses of up to €50,000”. “Ulster Bank is guilty of riding roughshod over the livelihoods of the vegetable and potato growers who are from north county Dublin, Meath and Cavan. “There is a major issue of principle here for all farmers, that farmers must be paid for produce supplied in good faith and no bank can walk away from their responsibilities.” “Farmers are rightly angry over Ulster Bank’s move to protect their own interests while sacrificing growers and their families. Ulster Bank are clearly the powerbrokers in this situation and this is once again an example of the banks looking after themselves and hammering small family businesses trying to survive and earn a livelihood. The reality is Ulster Bank have screwed growers in order to protect themselves and their own bad business decisions.” The IFA Deputy President called on Ulster Bank to live up to their responsibilities in this situation and deal fairly with the growers affected by the Bank’s actions. Growers protested in the Ulster Bank branches in Malahide, Co Dublin, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan and Cootehill, Co. Cavan. |
Friday, 05 November 2010 10:51