Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not know if it is the correct heading under which to raise this question. Today in the farming press, we saw a frightening headline about the number of farm animals that are entering knackeries. I suppose it has been the worst spring I can remember in my time farming. It has been the worst and longest winter and the worst spring. We have had flooding, snow and high winds. We should have been promoting a subsidy for concentrates instead of the subsidy for transport. At this stage, fodder is virtually non-existent even if the weather improved tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, the forecast for the next week to ten days is anything but pleasant. Are there any plans to introduce a concentrate subsidy that would address some of the animal welfare issues on the ground? It does not do our industry's image any good to see headlines like those we saw today in the paper. There are serious problems out there. Even on what we would call intensive farms, there is a serious shortage of feed at this stage. As I was driving up today, I do not think I saw one herd of cows out in the fields this morning so there is a serious problem. A subsidy for concentrate at this time could be a major help in alleviating the welfare problems.