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There was strong support for the Fianna Fáil motion on fodder in a debate on Tuesday night.
The motion called on the Government to introduce a hardship fund, meal vouchers and the immediate rollout of low-cost loans.
We know you can’t control the weather but what you need to be able to do is have a sense for what is happening on the ground
Sinn Féin, Labour and Independent TDs agreed with much of what the motion proposed.
"We will be supporting the motion. This fodder crisis has been going on for a very long time," Martin Kenny said, adding that the Government should look at solutions to avoid this situation in future, such as a land drainage incentive.
“We need to give farmers hope. Money is tight,” said Michael Fitzmaurice. “The suckler cow is disappearing by the day, the facts are there in the figures of calves born. Farmers need a few pound in the kitty but they also need a vision of where they are going. They need hope, they need leadership.”
Measured
Addressing the comments, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said he does not accept that he has been slow to act.
“We have acted in the department at all times in appropriate and measured ways as this story evolved,” he said. Creed was called upon to revise Food Wise 2025 targets in light of the fodder difficulties. He said: “We are dealing with the visual personification of the climate change challenge. My Department, Teagasc, co-ops and individual farmers will have to face up to that.”
Jackie Cahill Fianna Fáil TD speaking on the fodder crisis in Dáil Éireann
Response
Fianna Fáil agricultural spokesperson Charlie McConologue concluded proceedings by calling on the Minister to act now to alleviate the pressure on farmers.
“We know you can’t control the weather but what you need to be able to do is have a sense for what is happening on the ground and be able to respond to it and show leadership,” McConologue said. “We are asking that you fully and properly respond and assist farmers over the next few weeks. Farmers have to make a living, not only to pay the bills for the household but to ensure cattle can be fed. It is a very distressing time.”
The motion, with accepted amendments, will be put to a vote on Thursday.
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