Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming into the House and acknowledge the efforts being made in the current crisis. The three Deputies who have raised the issue today come from west of the River Shannon. That indicates how bad things are.

I come from a farming background and have never seen such a drastic situation. When the weather broke last Tuesday and again at the weekend, it put things back significantly, with the effect that there is a shortage of fodder. I consider it to be a fodder famine. Dependence on hay from England and France has proved difficult. Having spoken to farming organisations, particularly in the marginal areas, I do not believe it will stop now. This will carry on over the winter and into next year; therefore, we need some contingency plans in place to deal with it. Will the Minister consider setting up a sub-group involving all of the interested groups in order that they can come up with strategies to prevent what we are going through?

Will the Minister consider opening up ports? In my county farmers are trying to bring in up to 5,000 bales of fodder by boat from France. If that was possible, it would alleviate the problem in the south-west corner temporarily. The Minister needs to remember that there is no cut of silage yet. The only silage cut down my way has been taken straight into the shed because farmers cannot put their cattle out and there is no possibility of proceeding with the main cut, which is the first one. People who used to make two and three cuts a year will be very lucky if they make two this year. On marginal land they will not get this. I would like the Minister to consider setting up a sub-group, as well as opening the ports for farm groups to bring in fodder.

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