Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We all welcome the very warm and good weather but it also brings challenges, particularly for the farming community. Will the Taoiseach take up a matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on showing flexibility for farmers who are participating in the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, and who have taken up the traditional hay meadow option within that scheme, which prevents the cutting of grass and hay before 1 July? It is five days from now. I contacted the Minister over the weekend to ask that some flexibility be shown. He has so far refused to do so. It is important, given we need to replenish fodder stocks, that every opportunity is given to the farming community to ensure it maximises fodder saving this year. I ask the Taoiseach to respond to me on this matter and to take it up with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to see that some flexibility is given in order that farmers can get on with that important work.

See this speech in context