Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday the annual national farm survey was released by Teagasc. It shows that farming continues to be highly reliant on direct support payments. The single farm payment continues to be the most important component of direct payments. It comprises 58% of farm income on average, and over 80% of income on cattle farms. These are astonishing figures. Shockingly, it also shows that 26,104 farm households are not viable and neither the farmer nor the spouse works off the farm. This highlights the desperate situation the agriculture sector is in. All farming associations, including the IFA, have said the main reason for the drop in income was bad weather and the impact of Government cuts.

The Taoiseach might believe he can do something about the weather, but he cannot. He can, however, do a lot about the Government's response to the fodder crisis the weather has caused. The Government response to the fodder crisis has been inaction and paralysis. A lot can be done about the levels of cuts the farming associations have said are causing real and substantial pain to farming families all over the country. It is clear these farms are particularly vulnerable to cuts in direct payments because they are so vital to farm income. Given that information, will the Taoiseach categorically acknowledge that there is a real crisis in the agriculture sector? All of the evidence points to the seriousness of the situation and the fodder crisis is getting worse. All reports are saying its effects will continue for the next number of years if it is not dealt with. So far this year there have been 133,000 fallen animals.

This is a real crisis and it is time for a national plan involving the relevant Ministers who can contribute to the easing of this suffering. There is a national strategic committee that comes together under the Taoiseach's direction at times of flooding, snow and other crises which are much smaller in area than the country-wide crisis in fodder. I demand the Taoiseach to convene that committee. Will the Taoiseach use his position of President of the European Union to tell his EU colleagues how bad things are in Ireland, that there is a real crisis and that there must be emergency measures put in place, including the making of all payments up-front while delaying farm inspections? The Teagasc inspectors should go into the banks with the farmers to see the refusals at first hand. The Minister says they are ready and willing to lend but they are not lending and farmers can no longer borrow because milk cheques and everything else are being consumed. This is an ongoing crisis that will get worse if the Taoiseach does not act.

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