If it was any other sector, there would be uproar

Cllr Gerry Dolan called on Leitrim County Council to call on the Minister for Agriculture to strongly reconsider his planned change of dates to farmers' ANC, BISS, CRISS and Eco-Scheme payments for 2023. 
Cllr Dolan said that delaying payments this year would be detrimental for the farming sector and rural communities and that this year, farmers are under increased levels of stress and financial pressure due to the bad weather, forecasted fodder shortage, factories slashing livestock prices and continual high prices for meal and diesel. 

Cllr Padraig Fallon supported the motion saying, "If this was to happen in any other sector where you were told you'd have to wait another five weeks for your payment, there would be absolute and total uproar about it."

He noted that farmers made agreements with financial institutions to make payments at certain times of the year. "It's causing major difficulty for them."

Cllr Des Gurkian also supported the motion as did Cllr Brendan Barry and Cllr Felim Gurn as well as Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock.