Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Solidarity is fine, but we have seen what meat factories have done in practical terms. They are exploiting the situation. That is a fact. The way prices have dropped in the past couple of weeks is completely unwarranted. We need practical solutions. I suggested moving the date for the spreading of chemical fertiliser and the Minister did not address that. We have to extend the grazing season and we have to build up a bank of grass when the rain comes. Stock will need to be kept out well into the autumn and early winter and we have to get that date extended. This is a practical step that the Minister can take. I expect that payment dates will be brought forward as in other years. However, we are going to head into a serious welfare situation on many farms. The Minister can talk about extra credit but the money involved has to be paid back. We are coming out of what was an extremely expensive spring for all farms. Farmers' finances are in a bad way. The banks will say to the Minister that they are available to talk but the reality is that they are putting farmers with overdrafts pressure and they are forcing them into situations that are untenable. The Minister needs to find practical solutions. Live exports and markets for stock will be hugely important in order that we might try to get the maximum number of cattle out of this country before winter arrives.

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