Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with my colleagues that there is a serious fodder crisis. However, I want to compliment the Minister on his work so far. He has made €1 million available and this is covering the cost of bringing in hay. I disagree with my colleague, Senator Leyden, about the south-west or south-north scenario he mentioned. Connacht Gold is importing fodder in the west and it is covered under the scheme, and I know there was hay in Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday and some hay in Sligo also.

I also want to compliment the IFA. I have spoken to IFA representatives in the past couple of days and know it has people in France since Thursday or Friday who have a large amount of hay ready to come by boat. It will be coming in this day next week, which will help to alleviate the problem. I want to compliment them on the establishment of the fund, along with the co-ops and agri-businesses. I know the Minister has talked to all of the banks and they have agreed they will make moneys available to the farming community. He has also talked to co-ops throughout the country, North and South, about making money available, and they have agreed to make it available free of interest, and also to make money available in the longer term for farmers to purchase fertiliser to make sure the grass is fertilised and starts growing. Hopefully, with an improvement in the weather over the coming days, the situation will improve.

We met a delegation of farmers yesterday in Leinster House and went through a number of the issues concerning them. All in all, we are working to get this problem sorted out and make sure no animals die. The Minister has assured us there is an emergency fund and a lo-call telephone line for farmers who have a difficulty, which is operated by the Department. We want to make sure no animals die as a result of this difficulty we are having.