Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We cannot blame the Minister for the weather of 2018 or the bad autumn of 2017 but his response, and that of the Government, has been completely inadequate. We raised this issue in November and again in January and we had a Topical Issue matter two weeks ago. We told the Minister about the impending crisis coming down the tracks but the Government refused to take action.

Unfortunately, a couple of fine days will not rectify this problem. Huge losses have been, and continue to be, incurred. The production of milk in the first ten days of April is down 9% to 10%. There will be ongoing fertility problems in the dairy sector. The constituents of milk are down. The beef sector is incurring considerable extra costs. No spring crops have been sown, and tillage farmers have to decide whether it will be economical, even if the weather does pick up, to sow the crops. Knackeries are reporting significant extra casualties. There are ongoing costs. The Government has to recognise that there will be ongoing losses in addition to the bills. The battle is already on to ensure enough fodder for 2018 and 2019. In the vast majority of cases, fertiliser has not yet been spread for first-cut silage.

As Deputy McConalogue has said, advance payments are welcome and will help with cash flow but more needs to be done. A low-cost loan is essential. When the joint Oireachtas committee met last Wednesday, the Minister's response was totally inadequate. He said the banks will look after this and look after credit for farmers. The Minister needs to look after credit for farmers, and he needs to ensure those who need it most get it, at a low cost.

I suggest that the Minister remove VAT on silage-wrap plastic for 2018 and on silage harvesting because it is essential that all fodder that can be garnered in the summer of 2018 be garnered to avoid similar circumstances next autumn and winter. The Minister needs to take action now. He has failed to take adequate action up to now. Farmers need financial help. They are under huge pressure, both financially and mentally. They need to see action from the Government now.

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