Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to contribute to this debate. I commend the Minister on the progress he has made in dealing with this crisis. For me, it is about practical measures.

In some cases individual farmers are under great strain, but it is working. The measure with the co-operatives was practical and quick. Farmers are working with it and are happy with its effectiveness. There has been growth in recent days and it is hoped it will sustain farmers. The two key features are ensuring farmers have proper yields from their silage cuts and that they are able to put proper measures in place for grazing.

The Minister has said he is managing the crisis on a day-to-day basis and referred to future measures. He has also said he will put in place contingency plans to address what will happen in the coming months. Obviously, they will include the co-operatives, with which I am aware the Minister is continuing to have discussions, Teagasc, the banks and the farmers' organisations. As a Deputy in Limerick, I know that agriculture contributes enormously in terms of jobs to the rural economy and that it is extremely important that we support it, but what has been done to date by the Minister is yielding huge results. The approach he took in respect of the co-operatives and purchasing of fodder was inventive and practical and it has worked. The key feature is to have proper contingency plans in place in the coming months to deal with all eventualities.

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