Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the news that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced aid for dairy and pig farmers who have had a very difficult year. There was a collapse in milk prices and pig farmers had a similar problem. There will be a fund of over €27 million paid out to them before Christmas, of which €13 million comes from the EU and €13 million from national funds. That is good news for about 18,000 farmers who will get €1,300 or €1,400 before Christmas. There is a smaller number of farmers involved in the dairy sector.

The payments are vitally important. A number of farmers still have not got their basic payments, although most have. It is important that we call on the Minister to make sure that those farmers who are short-listed do receive their basic payment before Christmas.