Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

The ongoing dispute at Michael Davitt House, Castlebar, County Mayo, as well as in Galway, Limerick and Kerry, is an unmitigated disaster. It is now in its sixth week, and there is absolutely no sign of a solution or resolution. There are no talks taking place. Without meaningful dialogue, the dispute will go on and on. The consequences are horrendous and causing enormous hardship.

It must be recognised that, at all times of the year but particularly now, farmers need money. They cannot have it, however, as they cannot sell their cattle because the only testing taking place is for brucellosis. No testing is taking place for tuberculosis. Today a young widow whose husband died nine months ago was literally crying because she could not get suckler and other agricultural grants owing to the situation, and she is but one of many.