Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ba bhreá liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Tréaslaím leis as ucht an mhéid atá déanta aige. Tréaslaím freisin leis na co-ops as ucht an scéim iomportála beatha. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil íocaíocht ag teacht ón Roinn chun cabhair a thabhairt sa chomhthéacs seo.

I will tell the Minister “Well done”. There is something elemental about farming woes. Certain sectors give out about farmers and farming, but when farmers hit hard times, they receive a great deal of sympathy because people know how vulnerable farming is and how connected we all are with the land. There is a good tradition of Governments responding well in times of crisis. This crisis is no exception. I welcome what the Minister and his Department have done in supporting the co-ops’ imported fodder transport scheme.

The crisis has a number of elements. The economic impact is critical and the damage is not short-term, as it will roll on. Land that was used for next year’s silage is not available in the short term, which will have an impact on the availability of feed next year as well as the number of cattle and sheep that can be supported.

It is right that the Minister has left the transport subsidy scheme open because this situation will have to be monitored on an ongoing basis. It is not a problem that will go away as quickly as it came.

The second issue is the stress caused to farmers, which is more difficult to estimate and respond to. While I understand that farm inspections cannot be ceased, I welcome the sensitivity being shown by inspectors. It can be difficult for people in farming to speak about the stress they are under arising out of aspects of their work, in particular at a time of crisis such as this. Irish people, much more than in the past, care for the welfare of their animals and are not only measuring the economic cost of this crisis but are conscious of the animal welfare dimension also. Whatever can be done to assist farmers should be done. We cannot ignore the human cost of this crisis. It is hoped the extension of the scheme will allow farmers to consider the situation they are in and that the Department will work to ensure farmers are aware of all the supports available to them.

The third issue is, perhaps, animal welfare. Cattle fall or die for many different reasons. While I do not wish to be sensationalist, it would be helpful if the Minister could provide us with an estimate of the number of fallen animals attributable to the fodder crisis. Is a particular section within the Department dealing with this issue? I apologise if the Minister dealt with that issue during his opening speech but I was absent on other business. How will the Department be structured on an ongoing basis in terms of attention to this crisis?

It seems to me and following on from what Senator O'Keeffe said, if the current weather trend continues, an ongoing response will be required. It looks like it will not be possible to pack away the tents and that we will be dealing with these problems into the future.