MEP urges Coveney to access EU funds to ease fodder crisis

An Independent MEP said the Minister for Agriculture should access special EU funds to help farmers affected by the fodder crisis.

Marian Harkin is strongly criticising Simon Coveney's efforts to ease the fodder situation.

The North West MEP said that the Minister's pledge of €1m to assist farmers is completely inadequate-and she said his efforts to date are not enough.

"Farmers are in a terrible situation, as far as the European solution is concerned the only thing here is the solidarity fund

"The Minister should look at putting in an application for the solidarity fund," she said.

"It wouldn't come soon but at least if we knew there was a chance of it coming then the government could go ahead and spend some money because the problem for a lot of farmers now is really acute."