Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of local and national importance; namely, the urgent need for this House to have a full and frank discussion on the farming crisis. Farm incomes have dropped by more than 40% on average, but in many difficult wetland areas that figure is much higher. Even more serious are the unworkable regulations that have been imposed, especially on intensive units such as poultry and pig farms, at variance to what is happening in other EU countries. It is unrealistic to expect farmers to farm according to fixed dates for slurry and fertiliser spreading regardless of weather conditions, and the agreements made must be renegotiated. This cannot be dealt with today but I hope it will send a message that we need an urgent debate once the Dáil resumes.

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