Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like all the other speakers I have farmers coming into my office from Borris, Bagenalstown, Tullow, Hacketstown, Rathvilly and Carlow itself - I have covered them all - and they are telling me they did not get to sow winter corn. They talk about bringing back seed because they did not get to sow. It has become a huge issue this year. Potato farmers are constantly on to me about how poor the planting conditions were this year. Only 50 acres out of 21,000 acres have been planted by potato farmers this year. My understanding is that this is unheard of. According to Teagasc, which we all know, and which has a fabulous research facility in Oak Park in Carlow, inclement weather has delayed the planting of crops and led to crop harvest failure, higher bedding, feeding and housing costs for those with farm animals, and generally has resulted in tougher farming conditions. This is not just farmers talking. These are the statistics.

According to Met Éireann, the second half of 2023, was exceptionally wet with numerous flooding events throughout the country. There were annual rainfall totals of above average at most stations. July 2023 was the wettest July on record. There were two storms in August, more heavy rainfall events in late September, record rainfall in the south for October and above-average rainfall for December.

The Minister knows that down the line consumers will be hit by the cost of potatoes, for example. There will be a lack of potatoes which means the farmers will be on a non-competitive footing straight away.

The land is still wet so a lot of work still cannot be done. Although the weather has been better in recent days, thank God, and there are a lot more tractors on the road. I have seen in recent days when I was out canvassing the number of tractors on the road is really welcome. It has only been a few days but we need a much longer spell of nice weather to repair the huge damage that has been done in past months.

Farmers also tell me that there is going to be a fodder shortage, which means we will have to buy in fodder. We do not even know if we can do this because conditions have bad all around the world. It is important that farmers get supports now to combat these weather challenges. My two daughters are married to small farmers. I talk to the IFA daily but I particularly listen to these two farmers. They tell me that many small farmers hold down one or two other jobs because they are finding it hard to survive. Farmers work seven days a week. It is not the kind of job where a person can forget it for a day and take a day off. You just cannot do that. Someone has to be on the farm at all times. As a Government, we have to be very appreciative of the work our farmers do for us and the work they have done. They got us out of famines. They have done more work to bring this country back on its feet than anyone else. It is important we appreciate and give what support we can to them.

From talking to them, I know that many of them are struggling. We can see that climate change will be a huge issue. I know the Minister and the Minister of State are committed to putting supports in place. Farmers do appreciate these supports. The Minister has been in Carlow on many occasions in recent months. He has spoken to the farmers and he has heard their concerns. We have to listen to them and give them the supports. If we do not do so, I am being told many farmers' sons or daughters will not want to stay in farming. This would be a disaster. We have to give them the supports, work with them and do the best we can.

Members have probably seen on the news the fact that a fire has been raging on Mount Leinster for the past three days. Many families live in the area. We have to be very mindful of them and of the wildlife in the area. I compliment the fire and emergency services and the gardaí who have been there for the past three nights. It is worrying and we might have to look at it further. I compliment everyone in Carlow who has been involved in the effort.

I am honoured to work with the Carlow farmers. We have a huge population of farmers in the county. They need to know they are being listened to and that we can put supports in place for them. All they want is a bit of help and support. Representatives from Carlow IFA attended a meeting of Carlow County Council a few weeks ago, which I also attended. It was very good that they are going around the country and working with everyone. As the representatives said, it is important we work with them, listen to them and do what we can to help and support our farmers. As I said, Carlow is a really big farming area. I said to them, and I will continue to say, that the Government is committed and it will do what it can.

I met the Taoiseach myself in Carlow. He came into the office. He was in Carlow on Friday and I believe he met some farmers, which is very welcome. It is important that our Taoiseach was in Carlow and met farmers there. I had told them already that the Minister for Agriculture was talking to farmers and had agreed to work with them as well. All of us in Government have to work together to show that we are there to work with all farmers, big, medium, and small. Every farmer is important to us. The message that we need to send out is that it does not matter what bit of land a farmer has or what size it is, we are there to work with them and give them our full support.

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