Water Results To Be Put Online

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley T.D. has announced that he has issued instructions to local authorities to commence publishing the results of their drinking water sampling programmes on their websites.

“I am pleased to announce this measure which is in line with the commitment made in the Programme for Government to enable consumers to access user-friendly information on drinking water quality online” the Minister said.

The Minister has directed that all local authorities should publish the results of their water sampling, with access to the data being made available from a prominent position on each local authority's homepage. “Improved consumer access to information on the quality of drinking water will be a key driver in bringing about a sustained improvement in the quality of water services. Ready access by consumers to up-to-date data on water quality is not alone important in terms of protecting public health, but also it empowers consumers to actively engage with the water supplier to seek information or reassurance in relation to their drinking water supply" the Minister stated.

Under the 2007 Drinking Water Regulations the 34 County and City Councils are required to prepare a monitoring programme to cover each water supply in their functional area and to monitor all water supplies for which they are responsible. The Regulations also set down a range of chemical and micro-biological standards which drinking water supplies must comply with.

New Agri Environment Scheme To Be Introduced In 2010

The decision by Government to proceed with the introduction of a new agri-environment scheme in 2010 has been warmly welcomed by Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen T.D.

The Clare Deputy said the new scheme would be targeted at those farmers completing their REPS 3 contracts. He continued: “The new scheme, which will be funded through modulated funds and the European Economic Recovery Programme as well as the Exchequer, will impose fewer obligations and lower compliance costs on farmers. The primary aim of the scheme will be to produce tangible environmental benefits.”

The total funding for the new agri-environment scheme and the level of individual payments will be determined when the Estimates for next year are finalised. According to Minister of State Killeen: “At 62,000 participants, the highest ever since REPS began, the Minister for Agriculture had no option but to close it to new entrants as it was over subscribed. He wished to emphasise the point that thousands of farmers will continue to receive payments under REPS as part of their five-year contracts. This includes the 17,000 participants who came into the scheme this year and will be part of it for the next five years. My colleague Minister Brendan Smith is well aware and fully appreciates the concerns being expressed and has met with representatives of the farming organisations”.

Commission Must Continue To Extend Dairy Market Supports Says Killeen

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen today said the Irish Government supported European Commission proposals to extend public intervention for butter and skimmed milk powder.

The Clare Deputy was commenting ahead of a meeting in Brussels next week at which Member States will discuss the proposals.

“The measures being proposed by the Commission reflect the view at high political level of the continued importance of the dairy sector to the EU and its willingness to provide as much support as possible to address the current volatile international dairy market situation”, stated Minister of State Killeen.

He added: “While prices remain at an unacceptably low level, the Irish Government, through Minister Brendan Smith, will continue to mobilise colleagues in the Council of Ministers for their continued support in favour of actions in the dairy market. Such action is absolutely essential to support the Dairy Sector through a difficult period. The Irish Government will continue to highlight the need to use in the most effective way possible all Market Management measures”.

Meanwhile, Minister Killeen has welcomed the decision of the Milk Management Committee to extend the private storage aid scheme for butter from 15th August, when the scheme would normally close, until 28th February 2010.

The scheme was introduced in January this year, two months ahead of schedule because of the difficult market situation.

Second Irish Language Scheme Is Published

The availability of public services through the Irish language will be further strengthened over the coming years, according to Minister of State Tony Killeen.

The Clare T.D. made his comments following the publication of the second Irish Language Scheme 2009 – 2012 by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Minister of State Tony Killeen T.D. said the new Scheme builds on and consolidates the commitments in the first Scheme. He explained: “It sets out a commitment on behalf of the Department to develop the extent to which services are currently available through Irish and identifies areas for future enhancement. Under this Scheme the Government will continue to deliver the commitments set out in its first scheme and will build on the progress achieved over the preceding period. I am also pleased that this new Scheme sets out a framework for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to further develop the extent to which services are currently available to our customers through Irish.”

Minister of State Killeen continued: “This Scheme also takes account of the adoption by Government in December 2006 of the Policy Statement in relation to Irish that sets out a number of key principles for supporting the language; the policy context of the proposed 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language; and the particular mandate that the Department has in respect of supporting the extension and growth in use of the Irish language countrywide, including its maintenance in the Gaeltacht, which is the primary source of the living language.”

In relation to the wider implementation of the Official Languages Act, the Department has worked with partners to develop a range of supports to assist public bodies in meeting their obligations under the Act and in meeting the challenges of delivering on the commitments in their respective Language Schemes. These include:
- a Quality Assurance System for Translators;
- an on-line database of placenames www.logainm.ie;
- development of an Irish Language Translation Memory Resource;
- a glossary of signage and other terms established by Foras na Gaeilge on its website www.gaeilge.ie;
- development of a database of EU and legal terminology in Irish; and
- Freagra, a help-line for the public sector (freagra@acmhainn.ie).

Minister of State Killeen said it is envisaged the Department will continue to make such supports available, as appropriate, in the period ahead.

The Department’s Language Scheme 2009-1012 is available on www.pobail.ie

New Post Grad Course In Veterinary Public Health

Junior Agriculture Minister, Mr. Tony Killeen has welcomed the launch of a new Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Public Health.

The course has been developed by the universities in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to meet the continuing educational needs of Official Veterinarians involved in regulating the food industry. “The course, which will be jointly conferred by University College Dublin and The University of Ulster, is delivered entirely on-line and is the first of its kind to be available anywhere in Europe”; explained Minister of State Killeen. The Co Clare Deputy added: “The Department of Agriculture’s contribution to developing this new course and continuing education for official veterinarians engaged in veterinary public health, demonstrates the importance it gives to the proper regulation of the food industry. This regulation is essential if Ireland is to maintain and enhance its position as a producer of food of the very highest quality in European and world markets.”

“This type of continued collaborative work is mutually beneficial to us all and anything that strengthens our controls can only enhance Ireland’s profile within the agri-food sector,” concluded Minister Killeen.

Every household to receive Lisbon postcard

A postcard explaining the legal guarantees secured by the Government in relation to the Lisbon Treaty is to be sent to every household in the country.

The Government information campaign comes just three months ahead of a controversial second referendum on the treaty planned for early October.

The guarantees in respect of taxation, neutrality and abortion were agreed at June’s EU summit in Brussels and will be incorporated in a series of treaty protocols.

Ireland Is Declared Brucellosis Free

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, Mr. Tony Killeen has warmly welcomed the EU Commission’s approval of Ireland’s application for official brucellosis free status.

“For some time, Ireland has been in a position to be declared Brucellosis-free because of the dramatic reduction in the incidence of Brucellosis over the past decade and because there has been no confirmed outbreak of this disease here since April 2006”, explained Minister of State Killeen.

The Fianna Fail TD for Clare described the EC’s approval as a “significant development” for Irish agriculture. He pointed out that securing Brucellosis-free status for Ireland would now enable the Department of Agriculture to reduce some of the control elements of the eradication programme over the coming years with a beneficial impact on farmers, particularly in relation to trade.

Minister of State Killeen continued, “I acknowledge that the eradication arrangements have been disruptive and costly both to farmers and to the Department of Agriculture, in terms of compensation and the substantial additional costs incurred on testing and other economic losses arising from the premature removal of infected cattle. Our combined efforts and success in combating Brucellosis is due to a number of factors, not least the full cooperation of all stakeholders with the eradication regime.”

Minister Killeen welcomed the confirmation from his colleague and Minister for agriculture Brendan Smith that a controlled reduction in the brucellosis eradication programme would take place over a period of years. He stated: “There will be an increase in the period of the pre-movement test from 30 to 60 days, while the age threshold for round testing will be increased to 24 months. However, in view of the greater risk attached to the movement, particularly the movement of breeding animals, the age limit for the pre-movement test will be retained at 12 months except in the case of bulls, for which the age limit is being increased to 18 months, given the lower risk of transmitting the disease.”

Minister Killeen said that the new arrangements would be implemented as soon as possible after the publication of the Commission Decision and the necessary amendments are made to national legislation.

Irish holidaymakers to enjoy reduced mobile roaming charges

Anyone travelling within the European Union can enjoy reduced mobile phone roaming charges from this Wednesday, 1 July.

Making a telephone call, sending a text message or reading emails on a mobile phone from across the European Union will cost less from tomorrow. Businessworld.ie reports that the tariff cuts, which complete a European Union ruling from 2007, were proposed by the EU's executive arm at the end of 2008 and won approval by the European Parliament and member states. Following the new price curbs, which take effect on July 1, it will be up to 60 percent cheaper to send mobile phone text messages while travelling in the EU or to surf the Web by laptop.

Operators will be allowed to charge customers a maximum of 11 euro cents (15 U.S. cents) per roamed text message (SMS), excluding sales tax, compared with current prices of about 28 cents. As of July 1, prices for making a roamed mobile call will be capped at 43 euro cents per minute versus 46 cents previously, and at 19 cents, down from 22 cents, for calls received abroad.

The caps will further fall to 39 cents for calls made and 15 cents for calls received while roaming from July 1, 2010 and to 35 cents and 11 cents from July 1, 2011. Downloading data while roaming will cost a maximum of 1 euro per megabyte from Wednesday at the wholesale level compared with about 1.68 euros today. Operators must also introduce per-second billing after 30 seconds for roamed calls made and from the first second for calls received abroad.

Minister Killeen Welcomes Pledge Of Support For Undocumented Irish

Minister of State Tony Killeen T.D. has warmly welcomed a pledge by a Congressional Delegation to support the case of the undocumented Irish in the United States.

The Chairman of the “Friends of Ireland,” Congressman Richie Neal, today offered the group’s support to the case of the undocumented and pledged to further assist efforts to foster economic relations between the US and Ireland. Mr Neal made his comments during bi-lateral talks between the Friends of Ireland Congressional Delegation and an Irish Parliamentary delegation.

According to Minister of State Killeen: “The status of the undocumented Irish remains an issue of the highest priority for me and one that I have raised at Government level both in Ireland and the US on numerous occasions. Indeed, I have previously met with Congressman Neal in Washington and am delighted that he has again offered to support the case of the thousands of undocumented Irish.” The County Clare Deputy added: “Many Irish people have settled in the USA but, unable to return home, they have been separated from their families and their homes for many years. I am particularly pleased that the Friends of Ireland Congressional Delegation have pledged their support to this important issue. The group’s commitment to advance the case of undocumented is very important and much appreciated".

This week’s bi-lateral talks centred on the case of the undocumented Irish in the US, the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement, Ireland-US relations, International Fund for Ireland and the World Financial Crisis. Commenting during his visit to Ireland, Congressman Neal said: “The need for a strong relationship between Ireland and the US is now more important than ever. The Friends of Ireland Congressional Group has a long tradition of cultivating and supporting links between Ireland and the US, and during our meetings with the Ceann Comhairle, Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Party Leaders we have undertaken to continue this support. We have also agreed to advance the case of the thousands of undocumented Irish in the US. Many of these people have made lives for themselves in America and contribute positively to the communities they live in. We feel a way must be found to accommodate the needs of this group of people.”

The Friends of Ireland is a group of United States Congressmen, which promotes Irish interests in the US Houses of Representatives and helps to foster trade and cultural links between Ireland and the US.

Junior doctors face longer working weeks

Junior doctors face longer working weeks if a new Labour Court directive is adopted.

The Court has issued a ruling on the working hours of junior doctors, which recommends that their working day and working week should be extended, and which severely limits the opportunity for doctors to earn overtime pay. Junior doctors are currently rostered to work from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 9 am to 4 pm on Friday. Any work they do at night and at weekends is considered overtime, reports irishhealth.com.

The recommendation, if implemented, will lead to major savings for the HSE in junior doctor overtime pay at a time when it is trying to cut payroll costs. The IMO is to meet later this week to discuss the proposal and will ultimately ballot its members on it. In excess of €260 milliion per annum is spent on junior doctor overtime.

In-store tobacco advertising ban to be enforced from tomorrow

A ban on the display and advertising of tobacco in retail stores will come into effect tomorrow.

Tobacco will now be placed in closed plain containers behind the counter.

Vending machines in pubs will be token operated and within the sight of the bar manager, reports RTE.

Bus Eireann cutbacks talks underway

Management and unions at Bus Eireann are today engaged in talks at the Labour Relations Commission in a bid to resolve a dispute over the company's cost-cutting plans.

A planned strike over the €30m cutbacks was deferred last week after the Commission invited both sides to discussions. Bus Eireann wants to shed up to 320 jobs and alter the working conditions of employees.

However, the company has agreed to suspend implementation of the cuts pending the outcome of the latest talks.

Major jobs blow for Laois

ounty Laois-based Meadow Meats meat boning plant - part of the Dawn Group - is to close with the loss of 100 jobs.

The job losses come after a decision by the Dawn Group to merge the boning hall at the factory with another plant, reports Businessworld.ie. Workers are being offered redeployment to the other Dawn Group plant to which the work in being transferred in Granagh, Co Waterford, but only a few will be able to take up this option, according to SIPTU.

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”.

Royal Institute announces shortlist for Architectural Awards

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland has announced a shortlist of 35 projects for this year’s Irish Architectural Awards.

The awards will be presented next Monday June 22nd at Farmleigh.

10A Grangegorman Villas - Odos Architects
A House - FKL Architects
St George's Church & St Thomas's Insertion - Clancy Moore Architects
Arás na hÓidhreacha, Former Bishops Palace - OPW
Ballyfermot Leisure & Youth Centre Project - McGarry Ní Eanaigh Architects
Café /Bar on Deal Pier - Niall McLaughlin Architects
Coady House - Boyd Cody Architects
Country House, Morna Valley, Balearics, Spain - De Blacam & Meagher
Domus House, Rathmines - Donaghy & Dimond
Dwelling at Maytree - Odos Architects
Eurocampus/French School Dublin - A2 Architects
Extension to Ellenvale - Catriona Duggan & Achim Gottstein Architects
Hazelwood School - GM & AD Architects
Irishtown Health Centre - A&D Wejchert & Partners
Jigsaw - McCullough Mulvin
Lake House - Clancy Moore Architects
Landscape Room - Lid Architecture
Leixlip Garda Station - O'Brian Beary Architects
Library, Abbeyleix - De Blacam & Meagher
Light House Cinema, Smithfield - Dta Architects
Midland Regional Hospital at Tullamore - Murray O'Laoire/Brian O'Connell Associates
Origami House - Jane D Burnside Architects
Precast House, Howth - FKL Architects
Spa & Leisure Building, Hotel Europa - Gottstein Architects
St Michael's House Swimming Pool - Michael Collins Associates
St. Georges Church - Joseph Doyle Architects
Tallaght Zip & Plaza - Seán Harrington Architects
Thomond Park Redevelopment - Murray O'Laoire Architects/AFL Architects'
Timberyard Social Housing - O'Donnell & Tuomey Architects
Tesco Tramore Eco-Store - Joseph Doyle Architects
Ulsterbank - Consarc Design Group Ltd
University Of Ulster Belfast Campus - Todd Architects
Victoria Square - BDP Architects
Wexford Opera House - OPW & Keith Williams Architects
York Street Social Housing - Sean Harrington Architects

Boost for Sinn Fein as FG hints at possible coalition

Fine Gael's Justice Spokesman has said that he personally would not have a difficulty forming a government with Sinn Féin if the party had policies that would not cause problems.

Charlie Flanagan (left), who represents Laois/Offaly, told RTÉ's The Week in Politics programme, to be broadcast tonight, that at the moment he could not go along with Sinn Féin's opposition to the Lisbon Treaty and much of Gerry Adams' economic policies. Deputy Flanagan added that he did not know where all the 'hullabaloo' came from following Frank Flannery's recent comments, in which he held out the prospect of Fine Gael and Sinn Féin forming a government in the future.

Mr Flannery was last week demoted from this position as Fine Gael's Director of Elections.

Laois hold out despite late Louth comeback

Laois 1-15 Louth 1-11

MJ Tierney kicked six points for Laois as the Laois held out for a four-point victory at O'Moore Park today, reports the Irish Examiner. Laois led by 1-09 to 0-04 at half-time thanks to a goal from midfielder Pauric Clancy.

Louth kept in touch thanks to the efforts of Darren Clarke, but Laois built up an 11-point lead 13 minutes after the interval, following Ross Munnelly's opening score. Louth then responded well, inspired by substitute Aaron Hoey.

Hoey's 59th-minute goal gave them a life-line, but Laois held firm.

Laois County Council count continues

A count in the local elections in the Midlands is continuing this afternoon, five days after it began.

Officials in the Portlaoise area are recounting the votes, RTE News has reported today. An announcement is due shortly from the retuning officer regarding the decision made in a recount for the final Portlaoise seat on Laois County Council.

The recount was called by Charlie Flanagan TD on Sunday night when Fianna Fáil's Catherine Fitzgerald was deemed elected because she had more first preference votes than Fine Gael's Paddy Buggy.

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.”

Laois focused on Louth challenge

Laois selector Dermot Murphy says that his players have not got carried away in the fuss surrounding the omission of key forward Donie Brennan from the O'Moore squad for Sunday's Leinster SFC clash with Louth at Parnell Park.

Murphy told Midlands 103 that dropping Brennan for the game hasn't distracted the squad from the task at hand. "We have been getting on with the job. You could have allowed it to be a distraction but with only one week to go to the Championship we couldn't afford that to be a distraction. Players have been keeping their heads down and working really hard and we are pleased about that."

Pint-sized forward Brennan was dropped from the panel prior to a recent training weekend in Clare, which included a game against the Banner County, reports the Irish Examiner. Murphy says that apart from an injury to defender Pauric McMahon in a challenge game against Offaly, preparations are on track ahead of the Leinster SFC quarter-final against the Wee County.