Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House; it is better late than never. As he will be aware from media reports and photographs, conditions in the west are ferocious for farmers trying to cut corn. The problem affects west Cork, from where the Minister comes, south County Wexford, and all the western counties from County Kerry as far as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's area of County Donegal. Parts of counties Offaly and Longford are also affected. I visited one of the affected areas at the weekend with some Members of the European Parliament. It is possible to pull crops out of the ground by their roots. People involved in farming will understand me when I say the ground is "scalded". Moisture levels are so high that the gearboxes of combine harvesters are being broken when farmers try to transfer grain from the bins of the harvester to their trailers. Crops have also been destroyed.

I met members of the Irish Farmers Association last Saturday. The IFA is asking people to contact Teagasc to ensure we get the figures involved. Family farmers, especially in the west, are being wiped out. They have spent between €400 and €500 per acre on inputs. Some of them are renting land and they are experiencing total devastation. I have seen farmers crying because they do not know what will happen next. I have contacted MEPs about the issue. I ask the Minister to work with MEPs to ensure an Irish or European fund or a combination of the two is established to provide assistance. Something must be done for the affected farmers.

In some parts of County Leitrim, silage has not been cut yet. People will not believe this given the drought experienced in other areas. In addition, prices have fallen to an all-time low. I ask the Minister to extend the slurry season and establish immediately, as opposed to in six months' time, a fund for tillage farmers whose livelihoods are being lost.

See this speech in context