Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Farmers across all sectors have been struggling with increasing input costs. The Government response has been far too slow and underwhelming. For pig farmers, those escalating input costs have been compounded by depressed prices. They are in a battle for the survival of the sector. They are protesting at Kildare Street today and pleading with Government to intervene further.

This is not a month-old crisis. I have been raising it with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine since September, as have many other Deputies. Does the Taoiseach accept the Government needs to do more? I welcome the limited moves that have been made but much more needs to be done. The sector has said it requires a €100 million package, about half of which can be provided in loans. Will the Taoiseach utilise the Brexit adjustment reserve, the EU crisis reserve and any other measures at his disposal to save the sector?

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