Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of the grain sector has been touched on and the Minister is convening the first tillage forum on 6 October. However, there are particularly acute issues along the western seaboard in my own county and many others where a significant part of the spring barley crop could not be harvested. It looks like a significant part of it will not be harvested as time will run out. While there is an income issue in terms of the price being paid for barley not meeting the cost of producing it, the situation is particularly acute for those farmers who cannot get the grain out. They will be in a dire situation. Some have taken conacre and many bills are falling due. There have been a number of requests, including at European Parliament level, for a special crisis fund along the lines of the flood crisis fund that was put in place last year for people who had crop and property damage. It is a model which could be followed. Is that something the Minister is exploring? It is essential for those who are in that situation.

The programme for Government commits to an additional €25 million for areas of natural constraint for 2018. Is the Minister exploring with the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform the potential to bring that forward? Is he fighting for that given that it could make a real difference in terms of supporting farmers through the income crisis?