There will be no suspension of farm inspections during the fodder crisis, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told an Oireachtas Committee on Wednesday 11 April.

Minister Creed said that despite the hardship facing many farmers, delaying or suspending farm inspections could have a knock-on effect and delay payments issuing from the European Commission.

The minister said he had encouraged “inspectors take an informed approach to the circumstances farmers are in”.

A number of deputies echoed requests from farm organisations to suspend farm inspections, as farmers dealt with the challenges of the ongoing fodder crisis.

However, Fianna Fáil deputy Jackie Cahill cast doubts on the ability of farm inspectors to empathise with farmers facing difficulties.

“Compassionate application of the rules, we’ve never seen that in our part of the country,” Cahill stated.

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