Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

It took farmers almost three years to trade out of the disastrous year of 2009. The response from the Government has been shamefully inadequate. The only response last week from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, was to bring the single farm payment forward to October. Every Deputy in this House knows that the single farm payment has since inception been paid in October. As such, what the Minister has done is nothing new.

Our economy depends hugely on our farming and agricultural community. Ministers have rightly boasted about its success in terms of export-led growth. The Government needs to take this matter seriously, take a more proactive role and put in place more practical supports for troubled farmers. The Minister must meet with suppliers and merchants and demand more flexibility given the challenges of the disastrous weather. Also, the farming by calendar year needs to be urgently reviewed.

Has the Minister made any request for supplementary funding to in some way alleviate the plight of farmers in this country? Has he even requested that the single farm payment be paid earlier than October?

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