25 Apr 2013, 17:32
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine this afternoon engaged with Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney TD on the supports being provided to help farmers through the current fodder crisis.
25 April 2013
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: \"This afternoon’s wide-ranging discussions were a constructive engagement, in which the Minister detailed the steps being taken by his Department to help farmers through the current crisis. Centre stage to our Committee’s consideration of the matter is the immense strain the fodder shortage is placing on farm families across the country. There was a broad welcome to the Minister’s statement that an animal welfare fund was in place to ensure no animal should starve during the severe shortage of feed. Farmers in need of assistance, as well as concerned members of the public, can contact the helpline on 1850 211990 to ensure animals in distress would be nourished.”
“The Minister outlined to the Committee the approach of his Department to the current crisis, saying that sourcing and delivering feed rather was more effective approach than dispensing money. The Minister argued therefore that the targeted transport subsidy scheme was the most timely and efficient means of delivering fodder to the farmyards that needed it most. The Department transport subsidy is €50 per large bale, which can be redeemed by farmers through forms available in their local co-op.
“A number of Committee Members raised the ongoing difficulties farmers are facing in accessing finance through this difficult period. We take on board the Minister’s assurances that the main banks have agreed to offer flexible credit conditions and a number of Committee Members agreed to engage directly with the Minister in cases of constituents having difficulty in securing short term credit. The Minister also assured the Committee that, while farm inspections could not be suspended for the period, inspectors had been instructed to take a sensitive approach to their work around farms at this time.
“Our Committee welcomed the goodwill evident between co-ops, farming organisations and individual farmers, which has helped to alleviate the impact of the crisis for many farmers. We will continue to liaise with the Minister and his Department as developments unfold in the coming days and weeks. While acknowledging that the potential remains for a positive 2013 for farmers, a number of Members pointed to the potential medium to long term knock-on effects from the current crisis. We resolved to monitor events closely and, where necessary, proactively advance solutions for the many farm families on the ground affected by this crisis.”
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Membership
Deputies:
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Pat Deering, Fine Gael (Vice-Chair)
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael (Chair)
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour
Michael McNamara, Labour
Eamon Ó Cuiv, Fianna Fáil
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators:
Michael Comiskey, Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fáil
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fáil
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour