Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was not going to mention Cork but since Mr. Sheahan did, I need to acknowledge that the report states that the value of the milk product that comes out of County Cork alone is €4.22 billion. If we were to have a 10% drop in that in the county, it would be the most significant drop ever. That would take Ringaskiddy out of Cork in many ways with the impact it would have on the local economy. That report is quite frightening. We could have a loss of potentially 10% of the €4.22 billion, with the quota for milk volumes going through plants this year.

Mr. Mulvihill's ten-point plan was really well made. I will home in on point 9. Storage is really important. We all know that the key issue on farmers' doorsteps is storage. We have had a bad winter and they are under pressure regarding volumes. Will Mr. Mulvihill elaborate on how important this nutrient storage programme is, how we need to look at a 70% grant and how it is a key factor in the report?