EU approval is expected within the next few days for a package to assist pigmeat producers who are in serious financial trouble, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh.

Mr Walsh said that about 100 pig producers were in serious financial difficulties, particularly in the north-west region, and he had put a proposal to the EU Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler to alleviate the problem.

Fine Gael's agriculture spokesman, Mr Paul Connaughton, who raised the issue, said there were up to 300 producers out of a total of 700 facing financial ruin. He said the Minister was six months late with the scheme but he should put it in place immediately. Mr Walsh replied that he did not want "to proceed without EU approval and to have to ask producers for the money back".