Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the tillage farmers' request for compensation as a result of the severe weather conditions that seriously damaged their crops last autumn. In mid-September I visited a number of farms in the Bandon, Kilbrittain, Ballinspittle and Kinsale areas where I saw at first-hand what the weather had done to those grain crops. The crops were sprouting in the field and many of the heads of the grain were on the ground. When the weather improved later in September, the harvest was only a salvage operation - these crops were damaged to such an extent.

Noting the severity of this pending crisis, I immediately raised the issue on Leaders' Questions in the Dáil. I called on the Minister to put increased supports in place and make compensation available to farmers who had suffered huge losses. In November in the Dáil I again called on the Minister to make compensation available. Following that I wrote the MEPs from Munster, asking them to represent the tillage farmers in Europe and to raise the issue of compensation with the EU and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I also spoke at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this issue in December. I wrote to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to request a meeting. I had planned to bring in some of the farmers seriously affected, but it appears that the Minister is either unwilling or unable to meet.

While I welcome the steps outlined by the Minister, they do not go far enough to address the present crisis. While I welcome the introduction of TAMS for tillage farmers, I point out that the tillage farmers are among the last section to have TAMS applied to them. The year 2016 was the fourth year in a row in which many tillage farmers were trading at a loss. Over the past four years the amount of land in cereal production has dropped by 100,000 acres and that is predicted to fall by a further 67,000 acres this year. The Government must step up and support our tillage farmers, as without the support the farming sector will not survive.

I fully support the motion to introduce a rescue package for tillage farmers immediately. I see many of the farmers who have been affected in the Gallery. Approximately 375 growers have been affected, with 140 in south County Cork. It is time to sit up. The Minister cannot continue to say "no" while many of these farmers, including those in the Gallery, are going out of business. It is time to act - saying "no" is not an option.

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