Vol. 498 No. 5
78 Mr. Moloney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement regarding the outcome of the meetings he held recently with the banks and the grain federation in relation to the severe difficulties experienced by pig producers. [27764/98]
On 9 December 1998 I met with both the Irish Banking Federation and the Irish Grain and Feed Association to discuss their role in alleviating the difficulties in which individual pigmeat producers find themselves as a result of the current market weakness.
I am happy to state that the Irish Banking Federation expressed its absolute commitment to the long-term support of the sector and the producers involved. The banks also undertook to work with individual producers to find solutions in terms of working capital and cash flow which would suit their needs.
At my meeting with the Irish Grain and Feed Association, I made clear to them the importance of doing all in their power to ease the pressure which is currently on pig producers as a result of the market situation. I was pleased with the positive attitude adopted by both organisations to the problems in the pig sector.
