Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Before we go back to the Minister and to the other members, I have a couple of questions I would like to put to him. I was neither horrified nor surprised when I read in the Farming Independentthis morning that County Carlow is the driest county in the country at the moment. Myself and Deputy Cahill are arguably in the eye of the storm. The south east is the area where there has been the greatest difficulties in the past number of both weeks and months. The concern I have for the future is that the south east has been the most productive area in the country in terms of producing fodder for the rest of the country.

Traditionally, it supplied the west of Ireland in particular with hay, silage and whatever else. That will not now be available as there is not enough in the south east to look after the animals in the south east, let alone the rest of the country. There may have been a reference earlier by Deputies Cahill or Penrose to the idea of a small supply of fodder coming in from other countries. My understanding is that it is scarce enough abroad currently. How will we look after what is in the south east, let alone the other parts of the country? With the greatest respect to Deputy Penrose, whom I admire in many ways, meal vouchers to look after the highly productive area in the south east will probably not achieve much. Other options might need to be considered in that regard.

What is the Minister's opinion on the potential difficulties there may be with high culling rates over the next number of weeks that might have a knock-on effect on the price of cattle in factories? The Minister indicated there is another review ongoing or a census of fodder. Will there be any positive progress in this respect over the next number of weeks? The second cut silage was due to be cut in the first week in August but we will be doing well to see it cut in the middle of September, which is now a fortnight away. Growth has slowed, although there has been some rain recently. We are heading for a challenging time in the next number of weeks.