Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

He will get an opportunity to reply to the point in some forum, maybe not tonight.

My final suggestion relates to contingency planning for 2014. We do not know how this summer will pan out. Deputy Michael McNamara said that the worst is over for this year but we do not know that.

Will farmers have two silage cuts this year? We simply do not know. A long-term contingency plan must be put in place to deal with this situation as it will reach far into next year. Fianna Fáil has suggested the establishment of a €10 million emergency fund. I acknowledge the Minister established the transport scheme, funded it to the tune of €1 million and extended its deadline. Were he to set up our proposed emergency fund, it would give a degree of security to farmers.

Mention was made of establishing a special unit in the Department to co-ordinate the various stakeholders involved. This proposal has merit. It might be there already in an ad hoccapacity but it would be helpful to co-ordinate dealing with the banks for example. We cannot take the banks at face value, which we learned at our peril unfortunately. The Department needs to keep an eye on the banks regarding their commitments to provide adequate credit lines to affected farmers. If credit lines are not available, as we all know, business will not operate.

I would appreciate if the Minister took my suggestions on board. I compliment my colleague, Deputy Ó Cuív, on using our Private Members' time to raise this issue. It is of genuine and immense importance to many people across the country. The 300,000 jobs which rely on the agrifood sector have to be supported and must have that degree of certainty.

I also compliment Deputy McEntee on her maiden speech in the Dáil this evening. I was glad to be here to listen to it. I wish her well in her political career. Admittedly, I was wondering what was afoot when I saw a large crowd around the Minister in the Chamber. I was quite impressed that he had so much support on his benches. Alas, we now know the large attendance was for Deputy McEntee's maiden speech.

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