Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have spoken to people in the marts who have told me they are not included in the scheme. Perhaps the Minister will clarify the situation.

My colleague raised the issue of stocking density in disadvantaged areas, which is an issue with which I am familiar. People are being forced to keep a Connemara pony or donkey in order to reach targets. The Department should encourage them to save some fodder which they can sell rather than penalise them at the back end for not having had the stocking density over the required period. This would go some way towards recognising that there will be difficulties next year. The Minister knows that meadows that should be closed now are not closed and that cattle will need to be put out when first growth emerges. There will be no extra supply of fodder at the back end of this year.

I ask that the Minister, unlike last year, begin the necessary process now, recognising that there is a potential for a crisis. It is akin to the Minister for Transport, when Fianna Fáil was in power, being blamed for a lack of salt during a prolonged period of bad weather. That was not repeated the following year.

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