Minister urged to act fast to help Galway farmers
The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, is being urged to intervene in a dispute in France to allow fodder be shipped from its ports.
More than 3000 bales, destined for Ireland, are sitting in French ports waiting to be loaded.
However, French dockers, involved in a dispute are refusing to load the bales.
Farmers in Galway and across the country are facing another week of bad weather and a lack of fodder to feed livestock.
Senator Trevor O'Clochartaigh raised the issue in the Seanad today and urged the Agriculture Minister to act fast.
Responding in the Seanad, Fine Gael Chief Whip, Senator Maurice Commins said he would raise the issue immediately with Simon Coveney.
The fodder crisis is also having more far-reaching affects on the farming industry.
The Irish Farmers Association says thousands of livestock are dying due to malnutrition.