Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for the briefing and for keeping the committee updated during the last few difficult weeks. I welcome the move to keep pressure on banks. It is very important that banks lend money to help those people who have difficulties. The moves by co-operatives to bring in fodder are also very welcome. Connacht Gold has compounded a cheap ration, which I referred to the other day and which will cost approximately €240 to €250 per tonne. It will be a major help along with roughage, which is also very important. For people who have a bit of roughage land for cattle also, the compound ration will help to alleviate the problem.

I compliment my colleagues in the IFA, some of whom are in attendance, for their work over the last number of days. We all worked like that in difficult years previously. The more fodder, hay and people who work together, the better it will be. There is a serious problem with fertilizer. I have some at home in a shed which I could not spread due to the risk of rain. If one spread it, it might have been washed away and in any event it would have been lost as there was no growth there. We hope that there will be some mild weather.

I welcome the move to fast-track AEOS payments due to farmers. I received calls this morning on the way to the committee and am aware that there is a small number of farmers who had a problem with their disadvantaged-area application and single-farm payment last year. They have been penalised or their payments held up. It is their own fault as farmers sometimes throw a letter on the dresser and do not respond to it. They are now under pressure and wonder if matters can be sorted out. I will be in touch with the Minister's office to sort out a few problems that are there. We must all work together and hope the weather improves to provide a bit of growth.