Thanks be to God it is a lovely day today, but we have had inclement weather since last July now, and all types of farmers and communities are suffering hugely. I welcome the recent fodder package but, as regards cereal farmers, grain farmers and crops, potatoes were not even taken out last year on some farms and none are planted this year. There will be a huge problem with food shortages later in the year. These farmers in horticulture and cereals as well as fodder need a dedicated, targeted package of supports and measures because it is, as was said, well into May now and there are very few crops put in and the winter crops that were in are struggling and suffering with the wet and the constant inclement weather. It is more than the dairy sector being affected. The whole farming sector, especially cereals and horticulture, as well as sheep - the whole lot - is affected by the continuing bad weather.

I think you are ahead of yourself. We are not in May yet; we are still in April.

Gabh mo leithscéal. I am. It is April.

I share the concern of the farming community at the incessant rain we have experienced now since last July. Bar maybe a few weeks in August, it has been raining. Our food production system is being undermined as a result of that weather - there is no doubt about that - which, on another day, we should also reflect on in terms of broader debates about the changing weather patterns. As regards the immediate issue, especially in terms of horticulture and tillage, the Minister will engage with the sector as to what can be done to support it because we are aware of, as the Deputy says, the challenges with both early spring crops and summer crops last year. The weather has seriously impaired the work of our horticulture sector and it is having consequences and will have consequences, I think, for the remainder of the year.