Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would appreciate if I could speak. There is a desperate fodder crisis at the moment. We are looking for a few weeks' support until the grass grows. It has been a very dry and bitterly cold period. Farmers have been unable to get their cattle out and nothing is growing. To be fair, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, addressed us on this matter last evening. He spoke to all of the banks and the co-operatives yesterday. Farmers have been relying on the co-operatives to provide them with lines of credit. The banks have assured the Minister that credit is currently available to the farmers. It is encouraging to know that Ulster Bank stated it has set money aside. The bank is surprised that more farmers are not availing of this funding. However, I am not surprised, given the overall concern about the banks. Farmers must be supported at this crucial time. We are relying on this industry to pull us out of this mess of the recession. Farmers generate money in their local economy and they must be supported.

This House is unanimous in calling for help for farmers and for the banks to be sympathetic to them, given that they have made that commitment to the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney.