Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This matter was also raised by Deputy Áine Collins. Unfortunately, she has been unavoidably detained and relays her apologies for not being able to attend the Chamber.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this pertinent and relevant issue, particularly when the matter of the unbelievable weather-related conditions many farmers have faced has been raised today and last week. While I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, it is regrettable that the Minister for Social Protection could not attend to reply to this Topical Issue matter which cuts to the hearts of many rural families.

It is predominantly an issue that affects people in small holdings on bad land across many counties, including my county where farmers with dry stock in small holdings were unable to save hay or silage last year. This year they are at the stage where they cannot get it, and many of them cannot get the supports that were available for farm assist. As the Minister of State is aware, to qualify for farm assist a farmer has to be on the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of income. I raise that because the income levels of many of the people who would qualify for farm assist have been affected dramatically, even in recent weeks. Given the county he is from the Minister will appreciate that input costs, particularly for beef and dairy farmers, have gone through the roof in recent weeks. There is no access to fodder on the island. We know it must be imported. I do not like using the term but this is a critical situation for many people.

I have just left my office where I spoke to a farmer who not only has to contend with the fact that his income is down but he had the veterinarian from the Department out to his farm today. He has lost four animals in recent weeks and the veterinarian has put that down to dietary-related illnesses. Dietary-related illnesses means the cattle are not getting the nutrients they require to keep them alive. In addition to that he has the cost of disposing of the carcases of the cattle that died on the farm. He then must account for that to the Department.

This is not a political issue. It is an issue affecting farming families up and down the country. I implore the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come together on this issue and try to come up with a scheme of humanitarian assistance. Last week the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, together with his colleague, the Minister for overseas development aid, committed €21 million over three years for developing countries through the World Food Programme. A humanitarian issue is quickly developing on this island which is threatening animal husbandry and animal welfare, and I do not say that lightly. If farmers cannot feed their cattle, sheep or any of the animals on their farm and they are left with no alternative other than to watch them, as we have seen in some instances up and down the country, starving in sheds, somebody must intervene to protect those animals and to protect the farmers because their psychological health is suffering.

I heard the president of the Irish Farmers Association speak on a radio programme today and he was very responsible in terms of what that organisation is doing. I had a good deal of engagement with the farming organisations over the weekend, as I am sure did other Deputies, but this is a major issue and if it is not addressed in a coherent way in the coming days between the Departments of Social Protection and Agriculture, Food and the Marine, particularly for those on the lowest rung of the income ladder, namely, those on farm assist, we will be facing a major issue. I appeal to the Government to intervene in this issue on humanitarian grounds for farmers who have nothing more to give.

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