Home Care Plus Announces 50 Jobs

A private home care company has announced plans to create up to 50 jobs in the Leinster region over the coming year.

Home Care Plus says it is in the process of recruiting 20 carers and expects to generate another 30 jobs in the next 12 months. The firm provides care for elderly and unwell people in their own homes.

EU Agriculture Ministers To Discuss Supports For Dairy Market

Junior Agriculture Minister and Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Tony Killeen has welcomed the decision of the European Union’s Agriculture Ministers to meet on October 5th next to discuss the introduction of additional measures to support and stimulate the dairy sector.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister of State Killeen reiterated his call on the EU Commission to increase the level and scope of export refunds and to continue to apply all available market support measures. He said: “I recognise that the Commission has been quick to deploy aid to private storage, intervention and export refunds to support the sector to date. However, the fact is that these measures, while stabilising the market, have proved insufficient to lift the market, and we now need to act on the proposals from a large and growing number of Member States.”

“Ireland, for its part, recently joined a number of other nations in pledging support to a set of detailed proposals to support the sector”, added the Clare Deputy.

Climate Change Strategies Must Consider Security Of Food Supply - Killeen

The need to ensure security of food supply and the doubling of global food production in Europe over the next forty years should be considered when addressing the challenge of reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions, stated Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., today.

The Clare Deputy said he believed the European Union should assume a lead role in the effort to ensure sustainable food production in Europe, and to achieve global food security while effectively addressing the challenges of climate change. He commented: “These objectives will not be easy to reconcile. However, improved efficiency and productivity has already had a significant impact on Greenhouse Gas emissions from European agriculture. Much has been achieved through better farm management, progress in animal breeding and better use of fertiliser.”

Minister Killeen noted that, in Ireland’s case, efficiency improvements have led to a reduction of approximately 12% in the methane emissions associated with each tonne of milk output since 1990. “Emissions from agriculture represent 27% of Ireland’s overall emissions and almost 40% of Ireland’s non-trading sector emissions. This is the highest level of any Member State”, he added.

“Carbon efficiency can be further improved somewhat, without reducing food production. However, the scale of the challenge of climate change, and the manner in which we choose to address it, may result in unintended negative impacts, both in terms of Europe’s role in global food production and global Greenhouse Gas emissions levels. Therefore, there should be a consolidation of European research into technologies that will deliver mitigation and assist in adapting to the changes that are unavoidable”, concluded Minister of State Killeen.

Brucellosis-Testing Programme Is Scaled Down

Junior Agriculture Minister, Mr. Tony Killeen T.D., has said that the brucellosis-testing programme will be scaled down over the next two years following the recent European Commission decision granting Ireland officially brucellosis-free status.

The Clare T.D. confirmed that significant changes to the brucellosis programme have already been implemented with effect from 9th September 2009. The changes include an increase in the age threshold for annual round testing to 24 months; an increase in the validity period of the pre-movement test from 30 days to 60 days; an increase in the age-limit for the pre-movement test for female animals from 12 to 18 months and, in view of the lower risk attached to their movement, to 24 months for bulls; and the pre-movement test "one sale" rule applying to female cattle aged 18 months or more is retained. However, as a result of the change in age threshold for bulls, the "one sale" rule for bulls is being increased from 12 to 24 months.

According to Minister Killeen: “The new arrangements will reduce the cost of testing to farmers by removing the need to test approximately a quarter of all eligible animals during the course of annual herd testing. In addition, the extension of the pre-movement test to 60 days combined with the increase in the age threshold to 18 months for female animals will result in further significant savings for farmers. The total saving from these changes is estimated to be in the region of EUR5m.”

He continued: “In addition to the changes that came into effect this week, I welcome the move to initiate further changes in 2010 and in 2011. Commencing on 1 January 2010, dairy herds scheduled to be tested in 2010 and 2011 will now be tested every second year. This will exclude some 550,000 animals each year from the round test and, when taken in conjunction with the increase in the age threshold to 24 months which is being introduced immediately will remove some 1.35m animals from the annual testing programme".

"The steps taken by the Department of Agriculture are risk-based and focussed on reducing costs on farmers generally. They strike a balance between reducing significantly herd-based surveillance testing whilst maintaining vigilance regarding movement of animals. Reducing the burden of testing at herd level in a strategic way gives greater all-round cost reduction benefit while continuing to mitigate the overall level of risk of disease spread", added Minister of State Killeen.

Fianna Fail Must Support The Greens In Government

Clare Green Councillor Brian Meaney, one of three sitting Green County or City Councillors in the country, has said the Government will collapse if Fianna Fail ignores his Party's stance on the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) and the Commission on Taxation Report.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Green Party's membership this Saturday, the Clare County and Ennis Town Councillor said the Green party was prepared to implement change regardless of the political consequences or its popularity ratings in the opinion polls. He said: "Being in Government right now is the most fantastic place the Green Party can be. Ireland is at a critical juncture and the Greens are in a position to demand the implementation of measures required to influence the establishment of sound fundamentals to Irish electoral, financial and planning structures. A question remains, however, over Fianna Fail's willingness to accept the change that is necessary and the unknown political consequences of that".

Councillor Meaney, who has been a party member for 20 years, added that the redrafting of the proposals on NAMA was only one element of the demands being sought by the Green Party of their Government partner. He continued: "The NAMA Legislation only deals with consequences of the Wild West that was, or perhaps still is, the Irish banking sector. This lawless sector was presided over by our senior Government partner and made worse by the Dodge City planning and zoning decisions around the country. We possibly have the opportunity to set it right though I do not conceive the electorate will thank us for it. We should be prepared to take the hard decisions by securing the future of this country. Any party that fails to do so should not be in government."

Councillor Meaney admitted that, despite the pressure his party was placing on their Government partner, a General Election would undermine the country's ability to tackle the problems it now faced. "The authority and mandate of this Government to introduce the measures required to correct national finances and the banking sector may be open to question. However, the political posturing and opportunistic headline-grabbing positions taken by political parties and opinion makers over the last number of weeks is an indication of the debate that would take place during a general election campaign. It is clear to me that a General Election would solve nothing and would only lead to more confusion, false promises, and the general appeasement of various interest groups due to the parochial and clientelist nature of the Irish political process.

"The focus, media and otherwise, should not be on whether the Greens walk from Government but on Fianna Fail shirking doing what is right and supporting the measures the Greens are prepared to support and once and for all put the Governance of this State on the right track. Any capitulation by Fianna Fail on this would require them to leave Government. This would spark a General Election that Ireland's reputation can ill afford, potentially transforming this country into a political basket case as well as an economic basket case.

"For the first time in our political history the Greens are not irrelevant and we would be foolish if we allowed that opportunity slip. We face political oblivion if we, as a small, policy orientated political party fail to use our position to shove our political partners down the route this State has failed to take in the past. Fianna Fail must support the Greens in Government", concluded Councillor Meaney.

First Official Report Of Equine Piroplasmosis In Ireland

Junior Agriculture Minister, Mr. Tony Killeen T.D., today confirmed that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has identified the occurrence of equine Piroplasmosis in a number of thoroughbred horses in an equine facility in county Meath.

Piroplasmosis is a tick-borne protozoan disease of horses, mules, donkeys and zebra. It is caused by blood parasites – Theleria equi and Babesia caballi and gives rise to anaemia and jaundice in affected animals. The disease is not readily contagious and has no Zoonotic implications and therefore no public health concerns arise. According to Minister Killeen: “The County Meath facility affected by the occurrence of equine Piroplasmosis has been served with a movement restriction notice and epidemiological investigations are underway to establish the origin of the disease and the extent of the spread, if any, to other locations.”

“The Department has been in contact with industry representatives who have been informed of the situation. A meeting with industry representatives has been arranged to discuss the implications for animal movement and the measures appropriate to address the threat posed by the disease”, he added.

A notifiable disease in Ireland since July 2009, Piroplasmosis has not been officially reported in this country before although it is understood that a previous incursion did take place. The disease is present in Mediterranean countries but is not present in the US, Canada, the UK or Australia.

Reopening Of Indonesian Market To Irish EU Beef Welcomed By Killeen

Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen has warmly welcomed the Indonesian Government’s decision to lift its 8-year-old ban on the importation of Irish beef.

The Asian country imposed the ban for BSE-related reasons in 2001. The market is being re-opened under the conditions recommended by the Indonesian experts who visited Ireland last June. These include a requirement that the meat originate from cattle under 48 months of age. Initially access is being limited to those four plants that were inspected in June but the possibility of approving other plants, following similar inspection, remains open.

According to Minister of State Killeen: “The re-opening of this valuable market reflects intensive efforts by Government at political, diplomatic and technical level. Prior to the ban exports of Irish beef to Indonesia exceeded 24,000 tonnes, valued at in excess of EUR28.5 million.”

“This development represents another significant breakthrough in regaining markets closed because of BSE and added that it will provide a welcome additional outlet for Irish beef on the world market. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will continue to work with An Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs to develop new overseas opportunities for Irish beef exporters”, he added.

REPS Slurry Spreading Period Extended

REPS farmers unable to spread slurry on their land due to the recent poor weather conditions have been buoyed by a six-week extension of the REPS slurry-spreading period.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food this week announced the temporary measure to assist REPS farmers. According to Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: “The measure applies to farmers in REPS 3 who are required to have spread all the slurry produced during the winter housing period by 31 August”. The Clare T.D. said: “The atrocious weather conditions of the past two months have made it extremely difficult for some local REPS farmers to get their slurry spread by the end of this month”.

He continued: “The Nitrates Regulations would rule out spreading in many areas at the moment. I am delighted, therefore, that Minister Smith has agreed to extend the deadline to 15 October, which is the deadline in the Nitrates Regulations themselves and also applies to farmers in REPS 4”.

Eco-Assured Standard For Wild Fisheries Sector Launched

Tony Killeen, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine), today officially launched a new wild fisheries eco-assured standard for the Irish fisheries industry at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill, County Galway.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish Sea Fisheries Board as the holder, developer and manager of assurance schemes for the Irish seafood sector has developed its existing Quality Seafood Programme (QSP) to encompass wild caught Irish fish. The move will enable industry to clearly label their produce as Irish fish caught or farmed to the highest quality standards using responsible fishing and environmental practices. To ensure the entire supply chain is certified under the scheme, BIM is calling on fishermen, co-ops, processors and retailers to apply for the standard.

The extension of the BIM QSP to encompass wild fisheries actions a key recommendation set out by the Irish Seafood Market Initiative Group (ISMIG) set up by Minister of State Killeen last year. Chaired by BIM, the group consisting of industry representatives was formed by the Minister to determine actionable outcomes which will maximise opportunities in the Irish seafood market for the Irish fishing fleet, processors and retailers.

A number of fishermen and co-ops are already engaged in the Wild Fisheries Stewardship Standard and 56 vessels are currently implementing BIM’s Environmental Management System which demonstrates the industry’s commitment to not only adhering to strict quality standards but to ensuring vessels are run using environmental management and responsible fishing practices.

To ensure Irish seafood carries the eco-assured standard, Minister of State Killeen has called on the Irish fishing industry to apply for the standard. Speaking in Salthill today, the Minister of State said: “I welcome the new eco-assured standard that BIM is now offering Irish fishermen which will enable consumers to make informed choices about the fish they eat. This new standard will give consumers assurances that the fish they purchase was caught using responsible fishing practices on a vessel that follows a clear environmental management system.”

He continued: “I believe that consumers need to be informed about the fish they are buying and this standard will differentiate Irish fish under BIM’s Quality Seafood Programme from other fish on the market, including imports whose provenance is very often not known to consumers. I fully support BIM in the development of this standard and I would encourage all fishermen, co-ops, processors and retailers to apply for the standard so we can collectively drive the industry forward”.

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”.

Extension Of Public Intervention For Butter And Skimmed Milk Powder

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen expressed delight that pressure from the Irish Government and other EU Member States had led to the European Commission’s decision today to extend public intervention for butter and skimmed milk powder.

“This measure reflects the view at high political level of the continued importance of the dairy sector to the EU and the EC’s commitment to providing 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 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”.

Minister Killeen has also 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.

Meanwhile, Minister Killeen said that the Irish Government, principally, through Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith, would continue to press for an increase in export refunds for cheese, butter and skimmed milk powder. “My colleague Minister Smith this week pressed for the removal of impediments to support the export outside the Community of cheese products. In parallel with an increased level of refund, we also need to secure the suspension of the free-at-frontier price so that cheese refunds would actually benefit exporters. The export of quality cheeses from the EU would act as a stimulus to the market and generate much needed demand”, concluded the Clare T.D.

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.

Undersea telecommunications cable makes land at Portrush

The €30m ‘Project Kelvin’ fibre cable that will link Ireland to 24,000km of undersea cable linking Ireland with the US, Canada and UK came ashore at Portrush yesterday.

The fibre project, supported by €30m in public funding, was brought ashore by Hibernia Atlantic, parent company of Magnet Networks. The telecommunications cable will be connected by high capacity fibre to Letterkenny, Monaghan, Castleblayney, Dundalk and Drogheda, and it will also have points of presence in several locations across the border, reports Silicon Republic.

‘Project Kelvin’ is is a joint cooperation project between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Belfast and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which is part financed by the EU under the North-South cross-border cooperation programme.

Weekend disruptions for rail users

A security alert on the Belfast to Dublin railway line has disrupted cross-border train services.

Bus transfers between Newry and Dundalk are currently in operation due to the alert.

Meanwhile, rail users are being warned about major disruption to train services at Dublin's Heuston Station this weekend. Bus transfers will be in place for all inter-city routes into and out of the station from 8pm this evening until Sunday night. The closure is due to work on the Kildare Project, which involves the construction of new tracks and stations between Hazelhatch and Dublin.

Staff walkout threat at 19 Tesco stores

Strike notice was today served on 19 Tesco stores around the country amid claims some workers have had more than €100 knocked off their wages.

The Mandate trade union maintains a dispute around the company breaching an existing agreement regarding reduction of workers hours has caused the industrial action, according to breakingnews.ie. Its Tesco members voted 95% in favour of strike action, which will start on Thursday July 2. Two more days of walkouts are planned for Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10.

The stores affected are: Arklow, Ashbourne, Bloomfield, Carlow, Crumlin, Gorey, Greystones, New Street in Killarney, Longford, Naas, Navan, Newbridge, Omni, Poleberry, Rathfarnham, Roscrea, Roxboro, Tralee Manor, and Wicklow.

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”.

Tomas Quinn returns to training for Dubs

Dublin forward Tomas Quinn is expected to be fit to play for the Metropolitan's Leinster SFC semi-final with Westmeath.

An ankle injury forced Quinn out of his county's quarter-final victory over Meath but he is now back in full training, reports RTE Sport.

The news will come as a major boost to Dublin boss Pat Gilroy, who is also hoping to see Mark Vaughan make a return from a back injury.

AIB seeks to raise capital

AIB is seeking to raise capital by selling and leasing back seven prominent branches in strategic business locations.

According to businessworld.ie, CB Richard Ellis, who have been given the contract to sell the properties, today said the branches are in Swords, Navan, Dundalk, Monaghan, Kells, Castleblaney and Maynooth. This is part of an ongoing strategy by the Bank to unlock capital for its core business activities since the sale of AIB Bankcentre in Ballsbridge in 2005 and 2006.

Following on from the recent sale of three branches in Dublin, Naas and Mullingar, the Bank is releasing another tranche of its branch network in the form of sale and leaseback investments, CBRE said. All of the branches will be secured by long-term leases to Allied Irish Banks plc for a period of 20 years with a break option in year 15 and the initial rents will be subject to upward only reviews at 5 year intervals.

Jobs boost for Meath

Wetzel Holding, in Clonee, County Meath, a leader in print cylinder production and technology, has opened a new €5m technology production operation, which will create 25 jobs over the next five years.

Mountcharles family to launch Slane Whiskey

Slane Castle is set to become a destination for whiskey lovers as well as concertgoers, under plans by the Mountcharles family to ‘‘secure the future’’ of the County Meath estate.

The family is about to launch a premium brand Slane Castle whiskey in the US, and has plans to create an information and tasting centre at the castle, reports the Sunday Business Post. Alex Mountcharles, who has assumed the title of Lord Mountcharles from his father, Henry, said the intention was to ‘‘build additional business’’ at the 1,500-acre estate, which is best known for its annual rock concerts.

Mountcharles said that the idea for the whiskey originated about two years ago, and the first consignment of 1,000 cases had just been made by the nearby Cooley distillery.