Irish Government Seeks Additional Support For Dairy Farmers

The continued weakening of the Irish dairy market has led to increased efforts by the Irish Government to exert pressure on the European Commission to provide every available support to farmers.

That’s according to Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen who noted that without such support the current deep crisis in dairy markets would continue to badly affect dairy farmers’ incomes. Minister Killeen said, “Farmers across the EC, and farmers in Ireland in particular, are facing very severe difficulties in making ends meet. Prices are historically low and while the Commission has made every effort to stabilise the situation, there is no real sign that a recovery is in sight. I share my colleague and Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith’s concern that the market continues to show resistance, and price returns to dairy farmers in Ireland are now at levels that threaten the very viability of many farm enterprises”.

Minister Killeen said that the Irish Government has been to the forefront in pressing the Commission since last November for the activation of market measures, with some considerable success. He continued, “The Government will continue to seek further steps that may assist in reversing the downturn and stimulating the market further. This includes prolonging the intervention purchases of butter and skimmed milk powder, and the private storage scheme for butter beyond their normal closing dates in August. I believe that the role that private storage plays in particular, but intervention too, are such that their continuation after the normal end dates will be crucial in evening out the supply/demand curves and preventing further market turbulence at a time when supplies would otherwise hit commercial markets”.

Cavan murder trial gets underway

A 34-year-old man has gone on trial for the murder of Darren McGrath (left) who was shot dead in his home in Belturbet, County Cavan, on 20 May 2008.

Trevor McCabe of Mountpleasant, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, denies the murder of Mr McGrath, who was killed with two shotgun blasts to the head at close range, reports RTE.

The Central Criminal Court heard the 33-year-old was shot dead as he lay beside his partner in bed at around 5am on the morning of 20 May.

Women killed in Cavan crash

Gardaí are investigating the death of a woman in a crash in County Cavan early yesterday morning.

It is understood the 64-year-old woman lost control of her car on the Mullagh to Crossreagh Road. According to the Irish Times, the car was found overturned in a deep drain at the side of the road at 10.30am.

The woman, who was alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shock win for Antrim over Donegal

Donegal 0-12 Antrim 1-10

Antrim created a sensation at Ballybofey today with a shock Ulster SFC win, their first against Donegal since 1970.

A Tomas McCann goal in the 57th minute gave the Saffrons the belief that they could end the drought, and they celebrated with their supporters as they booked a semi-final date with Cavan.

A misfiring Donegal side hit 18 wides, and just couldn't shake off Antrim's gutsy challenge, which gave them their first provincial championship win since 2002.

Cavan handballer takes on US legend

American, David Chapman, regarded by many as the best handballer of his generation, and Paul Brady (left) of Cavan, the one who stole his champion crown, go head to head in the Men's Open final at the US Nationals in Fountain Valley, California at 7.30pm this evening Irish time.

In February 2004, Paul Brady was a rising star when he came up against the one many US handballers refer to as 'the god of handball'.

With $50,000 on the line, Brady defeated Chapman at the Ultimate PRO Handball Showdown to knock the US hero off the top and take the biggest prize money in handball history.

Health services boost for border counties

€30m in EU funding has been secured for health services in the border region.

It will be used to finance 12 major health and social care projects, for people on both sides of the border. The money was secured from an EU programme for cross border health and social care services, according to RTE News. It will enable people living in border areas to be able to access health services in the opposite jurisdiction, which are often closer to their homes.

The allocation of the money will be managed by the Co-operation and Working Together cross border health services partnership on behalf of the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Sinn Fein take last Council seat in Cavan

Sinn Féin has won the final seat on Cavan County Council by just one vote.

After two recounts in the Belturbet electoral area, Damien Brady took the seat from Fianna Fáil's Seamus McGahern by 1,004 to 1,003 votes, reports RTE. At one stage there were three votes separating the two but that closed to one after the recounts.

The result leaves Sinn Féin with four seats, Fianna Fáil with eight and Fine Gael with 13 seats on the council.

New MD for Kingspan

Cavan-based Kingspan said today Louis Eperjesi will resign as managing director of its insulated panels unit from July 31st and will be replaced by Gilbert McCarthy.

Mr McCarthy is currently the managing director of the group's off-site division.

DHL staff to vote on job cuts deal

Workers at DHL centres around the country will next week vote on a series of proposals from the firm that could see some of the 320 redundant staff take up self-employed contracts with the courier.

SIPTU today said that the proposals provide for a Service Partner Model which will allow a number of workers being made redundant at the depots in Athlone, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford to continue working on a self-employed basis with DHL, reports Businessworld.ie.

Annual Review Highlights Importance Of Agri-Food Sector To Economy Says Killeen

The newly published Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2008/2009 highlights the importance of the agri-food sector to the Irish economy.

That is according to Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen T.D. who pointed out that the indigenous strengths of the sector were evident from the report, which states that the sector accounts for 6.6% of GDP, 8.5% of employment, and EUR8.1 billion in exports.

Minister Killeen said: “The report indicates that Irish raw materials and services account for a significantly higher proportion of expenditure within the food and drink sector (70%) than for the manufacturing sectors as a whole. Moreover, 44% of food and drinks companies are located in the BMW regions compared with 30% of other manufacturing industries. In addition, the report shows that the wider biosector contributes approximately one-third of the net flow of funds into the economy generated by manufacturing exports.”

Mining firm upbeat despite pre-tax losses

AIM-listed zinc exploration company Connemara Mining has reported pre-tax losses of €472,795 for 2008. This was an improvement from the loss figure of €624,398 the previous year as its administrative expenses fell.

The company, which is now the fourth biggest licence holder in Irish exploration with a total of 38 licences, has no debt and a cash balance of €472,278, claims RTE. It is undertaking an extensive drilling programme to progress its zinc discoveries.

Connemara has discovered zinc at its sites in Stonepark in Limerick, Lough Sheelin in Cavan and has also recently reported good results from its Castlemaine licence in Kerry.

Energy company announces 1500 jobs

A Cootehill-based company has announced an ambitious expansion to create 10 wind-farms in Ireland.

Gaeltech Energy plan to invest €740 million in the project which it says will create up to 1,500 jobs during the construction phase. Gaeltech energy says its wind farm project will be able to provide electricity to over 135,000 houses when completed.

The company will locate the wind farms in Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Sligo, Offaly, Laois and Longford. According to a statement issued by Gaeltech, 1500 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project and a further 3,500 will be created in supporting industries.

Home Energy Savers Scheme Expected To Create Thousands Of Jobs

Conor Lenihan, TD, Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources today officially launched a nationwide scheme expected to generate thousands of new jobs in the clean-tech sector over the next 6 to 12 months.

The main focus of the Greenloan Home Energy Savers Scheme is to create significant employment opportunities in local communities throughout Ireland by grouping homeowners to avail of large discounts in upgrading their properties.

Over 250 clusters comprising thousands of homeowners in all 26 counties have already been created under the scheme, which was originally piloted in 2008 as part of the pilot phase of the SEI Home Energy Saving Scheme (HES).

See Greenloan.ie

EUR1.8m For HSE West Under Special Housing Aid For The Elderly Scheme

Minister of State and Clare T.D., Tony Killeen confirmed today that the Government has allocated EUR1.8m to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Western Area to carry out essential repairs to homes occupied by elderly persons living on their own.

The grant aid, provided under the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly (SHAE) Scheme, will enable works to be carried out on the homes of thousands of applicants. The Minister said that the EUR1.8m allocated to HSE West this week was the largest under the Scheme’s allocation for 2009. Elsewhere, EUR700k was allocated to HSE Dublin/North East, and EUR500k was provided to HSE Dublin/Mid Leinster and HSE Southern.

“I was delighted to receive confirmation of the allocation from my Ministerial colleague Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas. The funding under the scheme allows for work to be carried out in homes at a minimal cost to the State, allowing older people to live in their own homes for longer, which is what this Government wants to encourage as much as possible”, explained Minister Killeen.