25 Apr 2013, 09:28
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will tomorrow engage with Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney TD on the current fodder crisis.
25 April 2013
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: \"Last week, Committee Members expressed deep concern about the ongoing shortage in animal winter feed and slow grass growth and we look forward to discussing the matter in detail with Minister Simon Coveney tomorrow afternoon. The meeting, which had been postponed due to potential Ministerial commitments in Brussels, can now take place at 12:45 pm this afternoon.
\"In challenging economic times, we are intensely aware of the extra cost burden on farm families who have had to source feed in recent weeks. As a Committee, we intend to explore with the Minister the steps being taken to ensure that the impact of the current crisis on farmers can be mitigated. The announcement by the Minister yesterday of €1 million funding to cover the transport costs of importing fodder is to be welcomed. We will also wish to discuss with him the apparent difficulties farmers are currently having in securing short term credit from banks. With commodity prices still strong, we will engage with Minister Coveney on the level of short term support available for farmers to bridge this crisis to ensure the potential for Ireland's wider food industry in 2013 can be realised.\"
The meeting takes place at the later than advertised time of 12:45 pm this afternoon Thursday 25 April in Committee Room 4, LH 2000, and can be viewed online via the following link.
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