Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the weather changed and that we have had a prolonged period of cold weather, as a result of which there was no growth, and cattle were not out on the pastures, as they normally would be at this time of year. The snowfall is not the Minister's fault but, coming from a background of and understanding farming, and taking account of the poor level of harvest last year, he should have recognised the need to put a plan in place.

The Minister belatedly put in place a scheme for transportation of fodder, which was welcome but not good enough. The IFA deserves to be complimented-----

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