Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many farmers are still awaiting green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, payments. We are being told that administrative issues are causing the problem. The Taoiseach knows the weather has had a very bad effect on farmers. There are no cattle out. There is a scarcity of fodder and a massive increase in the cost of fodder they can buy. Farmers need money right now. Representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association are in town today, and I welcome them to Dublin. They are a great organisation fighting on behalf of our farming community but if the remaining GLAS payments cannot be issued, surely an advance payment can issue immediately if there are problems in particular cases. Farmers need their money now, not next month or in a couple of weeks' time. Anybody who has cattle in a shed and is running out of feed is trying to buy feed. There is no grass growing. The Taoiseach might not know about grass growing under his feet but I can tell him there is no grass growing, and that is causing an awful problem for farmers throughout the country. I ask the Taoiseach to please get this issue dealt with as a matter of urgency.

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