Ireland ‘should apply for EU aid over millions lost due to weather’

Ireland should apply for EU Solidarity Fund assistance to help farmers recover from the hundreds of millions of euro lost due to the ongoing deluge, according to ICMSA president John Comer.

The dairy group leader has called upon Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to apply to the EU for emergency relief, citing the precedent of the 2009 floods when the EU gave €13m to Ireland. However, far greater funding is required this time.

Mr Comer said: “Minister Coveney has already stated that there are no national funds available, so we want him to put the case to the EU that this support is absolutely needed to help farmers who have been decimated by this weather. This weather fits a lot of the criteria for funding, whether it’s viewed as an act of God or as a natural disaster.