A SINN Féin councillor has questioned Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir's suitability for his role after the Minister claimed that weather conditions have "improved sufficiently" for farmers in Fermanagh.

Minister Muir recently responded to a letter from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council regarding severe weather payment funding, and financial assistance for the agricultural sector during current hardships.

In the letter, Minister Muir claimed that "ground conditions have generally improved sufficiently to allow most farmers to make good progress this season".

He added: "There is no evidence of widespread issues and for that reason, additional funding [severe weather payment] has not been sought."

Speaking on the letter at a Council meeting on Tuesday night, Councillor Sheamus Green, SF, said he was almost left "speechless".

He said: "It's seldom that I am made speechless, but this letter almost did it.

"I genuinely don't know what planet, what environment, or what part of the world the Minister of Agriculture is from when he talks about ground conditions having generally improved to allow most farmers to make good progress.

"If this is what he thinks, maybe he needs to take a long look in the mirror and ask himself if Department of Agriculture Minister is really the post for him, if this is what he truly believes."

Councillor Greene also questioned a suggestion made by the Minister that farmers in difficulty should avail of "technical advice" offered by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). 

"This letter said there is no evidence of widespread issues," Councillor Greene continued.  

"All you have to do is look out the window and you can see evidence of it. It defies belief that [the Minister's] solution is to tell farmers to ring DAERA so that they might benefit from technical advice.

"What would that advice be: 'Get an umbrella'? I'm not sure what that would mean for a year like this, which is probably the worst year in living memory."

Councillor Paul Robinson, DUP, described Minister Muir's comments as "a disgrace". 

"It's [weather conditions] been very bad, and I know farmers who have half their silage used already," Councillor Robinson said. 

"I was talking to a man who hasn't even got his first cut of silage completed, and he says he won't get it. 

"So, to read that letter - well, it's a disgrace to come out with that kind of stuff down here."

Councillor Robinson proposed that the Council raise the issue with local MLAs who sit on the Northern Ireland Executive DAERA committee.