Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to address the same matter of agriculture. Storm Ali devastated up to 70% of the maize crop in Louth, Meath and north Dublin last week. Less than 60% of the crop, if it is salvageable at all, will only be salvaged by the introduction of imported specialist machinery. Much of that maize was grown to meet the demand of the cereal crisis that we have had over the past number of years. In view of the precedent that was set last year in regard to cereal and potato crops in Donegal and the north west, will the Taoiseach see to it that the Minister, Deputy Creed, will offer similar assistance to those devastated farmers who have lost up to 6,000 ha of crops? It will cause a serious impact on fodder supplies later in the year in the rest of the country.

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