John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome farmers involved in the grain sector to the Gallery, especially those from my parish. As my time is short, I will get straight to the point. The motion makes a simple request that the Government establish a crisis aid fund of €4.5 million. Having been on the ground and witnessed the devastation caused to the grain sector, the Minister will be aware that this is a real problem and something must be done about it. Given the underspend in his Department's budget last year, the money required for this fund is available and it is within the Minister's remit to sort out the issue if it has the desire to do so. I have known him for a long time and he is a reasonable and practical man. I ask him to remain so.

The precedent established when a crisis aid fund was established for the fruit growers of north County Dublin in 2010 was mentioned. Last year, a crisis fund was created for the large number of people affected by flooding. These were both deserving cases and the grain farmers in the Gallery today are just as deserving. It is not unreasonable to ask for this fund because the grain industry needs to survive. The farmers in the Gallery and the people they represent need to produce a crop in 2017 and many will not be able to do so if a crisis aid fund is not established. The motion will be passed and I ask the Minister to make the fund available and allow everyone to get on with business.

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