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

It was evident from last September and October that we would have a fodder crisis of some sort as silage being cut at the time was of poor quality, if one was lucky enough to be able to cut it. Any politician worth his or her salt would have known at Christmas that a crisis of major proportions was on the way. I watched trailers of silage going through west Cork several times daily. I made it my business at the time to speak with farmers, both milkers and suckler farmers, and they all told me the same story that they were in serious trouble. My colleagues and I raised the matter on the floor of the Dáil but we were told there was no crisis. The Minister was sound asleep at the wheel, and this has cost farmers, their families and Irish agriculture dearly.

I wrote to the Minister on 11 January about the crisis we experienced at that time. I outlined four actions that needed to be taken and if only some had been completed at the time, we would not be in such a deep crisis as we are now. First, I asked that a fodder transport subsidy be put in place to assist the movement of fodder for affected farmers. Second, I asked that livestock meal vouchers be made available immediately. Third, I asked for an aid package for farmers to help purchase fodder at the time to help them deal with the crisis. Fourth, I asked the Minister and the Department to co-ordinate with the Health Service Executive on a support system for farmers who might have been experiencing psychological stress because of their financial position.

My calls, which came from farmers on the ground from all over the political spectrum, were ignored. After weeks of pressure, a transport subsidy was put forward but not in west or north Cork, where cattle were dying on farms. I urge the Minister to introduce a meal voucher scheme and backdate it for farmers who have receipts back to January. I ask him to see if a farm payment can be brought forward to help farmers in the midst of crisis. I also welcome Mr. Cornie Buckley and the several members of the IFA in the Gallery. They have been to the forefront in trying to resolve this crisis.

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