Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know Senator Gallagher is a strong advocate for the farming community across his Cavan-Monaghan constituency and is in tune with farmers there and the pressure they are under. It has been a difficult year in his locality, as it has been in many other parts of the country. We have been conscious of that in government. As Minister I have worked to make sure we have responded as this has evolved, working closely with all stakeholders through the fodder committee, tasking Teagasc to provide support, introducing the fodder transport scheme and, most recently, introducing the €100/ha for tillage farmers and those who plant crops for harvest in 2024.I have also paused all non-essential farm inspections until 22 April to give some breathing space to farmers, understanding the stresses they are under at this time.

We will continue to support farmers at Government level in every way we can, but it is also important that farmers at local level watch out for one another and give that support, because it has been a challenging time and it was a hell of a long winter. Looking outside today, we hope the weather will continue to improve as the week goes on and that things will look up, but we do not know that will be the case and it is important we share our challenges in the meantime.