Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

Is the Minister aware of the period of delay between producers providing pigs to processors and payment being received? The period of delay is significantly different from the period involved prior to the dioxin contamination? In addressing that, will the Minister indicate how much money has been paid out? If it is necessary to pay out additional funds to the processors or others who have been affected, it should be done quickly to ensure these people can have the financial muscle to re-establish themselves in the market. Bord Bia has a role to play, but these individual companies also need financial assistance to regain market share and to pay farmers for the pigs they are producing. How much money has been drawn down? Are payments imminent? When will all the money be drawn down?

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