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This would protect the NBI and ESB networks across the country. I also propose the establishment of contingency contracts with farmers and agricultural contractors that would kick into action following storms and crisis situations. I was shocked to learn in recent weeks that some of the biggest … best agricultural contractors in Mayo were not contacted. These people have some of the biggest and best machinery to deal with trees falling across roads and across power lines in forested areas

supports given. Money spent locally in agriculture stays local and benefits the economy in a particular area. This includes farmers, input suppliers, merchants, agricultural contractors and various advisory services. On a national level, we need to ensure that we protect and grow the sector. We need to promote … grow alternative revenue streams. It has proved successful in other areas and it is something we should be looking at here. Turning to agricultural shows, I live in County Offaly. The Tullamore show is the largest one-day event on the island. We will have the National Ploughing

scheme. I thank him for the alleviation of stress for many people. National and local government must engage with our landowners, farmers and agricultural contractors and ensure they can and will work hand in hand with our State agencies and public bodies as part of clean-up operations

they communications cables or ESB cables. That is what caused the problem everywhere and we have got to address it. A lot of contractors helped. A lot of farmers will need hedge cutting and other such jobs to be done. For those people, the Minister must consider extending … house. Outside of that, however, we have turf. There is another issue that some Minister needs to address, namely, the targeted agriculture modernisation schemes, TAMS. While I welcome the Minister, Deputy Heydon's announcement on the generators, TAMS are not going to work for sheds that have lost

peak, 768,000 homes, businesses and farms had no electricity. I commend all the crews - more than 3,000 ESB Network contractors and colleagues who assisted from Britain and the EU were out there to restore power to our citizens. I acknowledge this was incredibly difficult … issues regarding forestry, I engaged directly with the Minister, Deputy Heydon. We met just last night along with officials from the Department of agriculture, my Department and ESB Networks around tree corridors and how we can advance a programme in that regard. I assure Deputies that we will

flag for Ireland. I passionately believe in that. It is a terrible important job of work to do. With regard to agriculture, forestry and horticulture, things have been quite literally turned upside down. We have many thousands of hectares of forestry that are knocked at the moment … account for something in the region of 56.5% of those 435 forests. They have permission from my Department to go in tomorrow with contractors and extract that timber. While 435 is not the total number, it is representative. If that follows through to the rest of the forests

done a driving lesson. It makes no sense. I have an agricultural background. People know I live on a farm. The tradition in agriculture is that many people go in straightaway at the age of 16, not 17, to get their learner's permit to enable them … ends up in a big political row. The reason this would help is that it would give certainty to the contractors working on road projects. If they are able to plan for 12 months, 18 months, two years or three years, they can do these projects much faster

their houses. I compliment the ESB on the amount of work it has done. The sickening fact is that I talked to a contractor who was bringing poling lorries from England. These lorries came to Holyhead but were not able to get on to the boat because … will be calving soon where the cowshed is gone. This is where we need action. There is a generator grant through the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, but it needs to be for the normal generator. We need to get water infrastructure, schools, crèches and all of that