Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Three months ago the European Council agreed to launch an EU-wide youth employment initiative. What concrete steps has the Government taken to further this initiative?

There is also an ongoing crisis in agriculture. As the Taoiseach will be aware, EU Agriculture Ministers are meeting at Dublin Castle to try to arrive at a deal in respect of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Is the Taoiseach of the view that a deal will be completed before the end of the Presidency? Our position is to support a redistribution of funding towards the majority of small and medium working farmers.

Currently, 2% of recipients take more of the overall funds than the bottom 40%. The appropriate term is "working farmers" or "active farmers". Will there be an opportunity to debate this matter in the House before the summer recess?

I wish to revert to the issue of the fodder crisis. I met members of the Louth IFA and listened to their concerns. The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, predict that it could cost farmers €1 billion, with beef and dairy farmers losing up to 60% of their annual incomes. Efforts have been taken to try to deal with the crisis and I commend everyone involved, but it will spill into next year. Has the Government considered seeking emergency support from the EU Solidarity Fund to address this crisis?

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