Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledged earlier that the recent adverse weather has caused difficulty on some individual farms. Our response has been measured and appropriate in the context of an ongoing developing situation. We will continue to observe and respond accordingly if it is considered that it is required to extend the fodder scheme. The Deputies will be aware that all the indicators of grass growth in the past week have been significantly ahead. That is ultimately the solution to the fodder crisis. However, as I said, it is something we keep under review.

I take Deputy Durkan's point concerning how we protect farm incomes. What is obvious is that 2017 farm incomes will be exceptionally high. However, taken in the round, what is also abundantly clear is that there is exceptional volatility in farm incomes. In the context of the question tabled by Deputy McConalogue on CAP, one of the things we need to look at is how we address volatility in the context of the policy instruments available to us through the CAP. The industry is doing a lot, particularly on the dairy side, on fixed price and fixed margin contracts etc. That is important. However, are there other things we can do? It is no use singing off the rooftops because 2017 dairy farm incomes were high when we all see now that the price of milk, allied with increased costs associated with the weather, is going to show this is a very challenged sector at the moment. It is likewise with livestock, although prices may be strong at the moment. We must address volatility and not take a particular snapshot at a moment in time that can be skewed one way or another.

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