Mr. David O'Brien:

We have heard about the number of farmers and the total figures for tonnes lost but the specifics are a lot more serious. I had one field of grain that I harvested at 1 tonne to the acre at 30.2% moisture, for which I got €97.50 a tonne. There were probably three bales of straw per acre, so the total income was probably €120 per acre. Everybody knows where the costs are, so that is a reflection of crops that were severely affected. One could look at averages among the 400 growers, but we have to think of the growers who suffered that kind of loss on a large proportion of their grain. A cheap interest loan next year is no good. Who is a going to loan a grower money on the basis of this year's accounts and income, with everybody knowing that the income from next year will be needed 100% to run the show next year? If we were in the dairy business, with the increasing milk price there would be confidence and hope that we could borrow and ride this one out over a number of years. However, the forward price for grain is showing nothing that suggests we can achieve this.

That is why our number one issue is a crisis fund to solve the current problem. It is very heartening to hear every committee member who has spoken on the issue recognise the problem. However, the question I will be asked when I go back to west Cork tomorrow is, "What did they say they will do for you?" or "What are we going to get?" We are in the run-in to Christmas and the situation for these growers is that their single payment has come and gone and there are still large bills to be paid. That is the reality. The next income is next year's harvest. That is the situation most of these people are living in and it is why we are here today. It is urgent that we get a pool of money. It is not a big number of growers so it is not a big a pool of money that is required to solve it, but for the people affected, it is essential. I would like to get feedback as to how strong a case the committee can put for us and what we can go back to west Cork and tell our people about where this is going and how confident we are the committee can deliver something for us.