Farmers dodging debts ‘should face new penalties’

Farmers dodging debts owed to the State should face new penalties, including debits from their earnings, seizures of their assets and higher interest rates on monies owed, according to a report.

The Government is considering setting up a central collection agency which could recoup over €200m owed across several public sectors, using radical, new penalties to force debtors to pay up.

Sweeping powers would be granted to the new agency, including denying businesses operating licences and landing hospital patients with hefty, late-payment fees.