Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree wholeheartedly with the different proposals put forward by my colleagues. We discussed the fodder shortage as one of the last items of business on Holy Thursday evening and we all hoped at that stage that at least the weather would improve. Travelling through my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan last night, there was torrential rain, once again putting back the possibility of growth and being able to let cattle out. Fianna Fáil and all the farm organisations have outlined specific measures that need to be implemented without further delay. The IFA in its statement this evening, as well as Lorcan McCabe of the ICMSA and the ICSA, have all put forward reasonable proposals that should be acted on and implemented, and they are outlined in our motion.

I understand substantial quantities of fodder are coming in from Northern Ireland. The transport subsidy is not available for the transport of that fodder and I understand substantial offers of fodder are still available north of the Border. It is wrong that co-operatives sourcing product outside our jurisdiction are not entitled to the subsidy for transporting it to where it is needed. I have been told about this by people working in the co-operatives and they are well-informed members of the farming community. I ask the Minister to address that issue.

There are huge pressures on the farming community. These measures, which would have negligible expenditure consequences, are essential and I appeal to the Minister to consider them. Some of us flagged the difficulties that emerged this winter due to cattle having to be housed so early last July and August. Many farmers in my own part of the country were unable to make a second cut and there was an obvious fodder shortage.

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