Calls for interim payments for farmers

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has called on Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan to ensure that the cash flow problems of the 7,000 farmers awaiting their single farm payment are immediately resolved.

ICMSA deputy president John O’Leary said it is time for the minister to sanction interim payments and to consider using the department’s county office network to assist.

“Farmers should be allowed to call into their county office and get their problems resolved,” he said.