I thank the Chair for the opportunity to raise this urgent and serious matter. As the Minister is undoubtedly aware, there is a serious crisis in the pig industry. This is more profound in the constituency I represent, Cavan-Monaghan, because of a serious fire at the Lovell and Christmas plant in Northern Ireland and the fact that McCarren's bacon factory in Cavan was closed at the same time. Thankfully, McCarren's has since reopened, but it will take some time before it reaches maximum output.
The fire in Northern Ireland, the closure of McCarren's and a downturn in the market means the pig industry has totally collapsed and small to medium size pig units are facing bankruptcy. It is vital that the Government immediately comes to the aid of these family units. Debts of over £300,000 to banks and millers are not uncommon. Unless the Government acts, the end result will be that these people will lose their farms. Through no fault of their own, these debts have mounted over the last six months, but further credit facilities from banks and millers are at an end.
I am aware of a number of units which were unable to procure feed for their pigs last weekend. It is expected that an upturn in the market will come about by mid-summer. Therefore, the Government should act and give financial assistance to units of up to 400 sows in size to help keep them in business until this upturn takes place. I suggest that £200 per sow for the first 100 sows, £100 per sow for the next 200 sows and £50 per sow for the remaining 100 sows should be provided, giving a fund of £45,000. This would help to stave off financial ruin for many of these family size units.
It is imperative that the Minister signals the Government's intention to immediately ward off the banks and the millers which are seeking to recover their debts, causing further misery to hard working, decent people who were working to an agenda set for them by Teagasc and Bord Bia. They told them it was necessary to increase production from three million pigs per annum to at least six million. Following those guidelines, during the good years family size units have increased from the usual 100 to 150 sow unit to approximately 300 to 400 sow units. They were becoming more economical and doing a good job. The constituency I represent, Cavan-Monaghan, has some of the best pig husbandry people in the country but they are now facing financial ruin.
I regret that the Minister of State, Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, is not present because he would have a full understanding of the terrible problems besetting the industry. However, I am sure he had an input to the Minister of State's reply and I look forward to a positive response.