Tipperary TD Michael Lowry is welcoming plans to pause farm inspections until April 22nd due to the current bad weather.
Deputy Lowry says farmers are facing unprecedented financial and operational challenges due to persistent bad weather including the arrival of Storm Kathleen tomorrow with strong winds and heavy rainfall expected.
Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, has directed that only Inspections that are required to receive Support Payments will proceed between now and April 22nd.
The Minister also requests that Banks and Financial Institutions exercise a level of flexibility to ensure that farmers can have access to short-term finance and overdraft facilities if required, where weather conditions have resulted in financial pressures.
Deputy Lowry is highlighting the operational, financial and psychological pressures bearing down on farmers.
The Thurles Based TD is confident that the incoming Taoiseach Simon Harris is aware of the urgent need for a support package for the farming community and says Minister Harris gave a commitment to immediately examine ways to support the sector during these extremely difficult times.
