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.

Electric and plumbing firm creates 70 jobs

A Tyrone-based company that provides plumbing and electrical services has announced plans to create 70 jobs in the Leinster region in the coming years.

O'Kane Plumbing and Electrics said the positions will be created during the next three years. It says it plans to upskill prospective employees to ensure full familiarity with the renewable energy sector.

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.

Internet users warned about Revenue scam

Revenue today warned Internet users of a bogus email that lures people into sending personal financial information.

The scam first popped up in March with fraudsters contacting their victims claiming they are owed a tax refund and asking for credit or debit card details and date of birth, reports breakingnews.ie. “The email appears to have issued again today,” a spokeswoman said. “This email did not issue from Revenue. The Revenue Commissioners never send emails which require customers to send personal information via email or pop-up windows.”

Revenue asked anyone who receives a suspicious email to forward it to webmaster@revenue.ie.

(Click on above image to view the bogus email received today by Irish County News)

Supermarket deliveries threatened by Kildare protest

Deliveries to Centra and Supervalu stores across the country could be disrupted by a protest being held at distribution centre in County Kildare.

Hundreds of angry farmers have descended on Musgrave distribution centre in Kilcock today in protest at the prices they are being paid for their produce.

The IFA says supermarkets are forcing farmers to sell them milk, meat and vegetables below the cost of production in a move that is putting their livelihoods at risk. Farmers have responded by blocking the entrance to the Musgrave centre, which distributes to Supervalu and Centra outlets around the country.

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.

Bord na Mona workers accept new arrangements

A strike at Bord na Mona has been averted by workers voting last night to accept new working arrangements.

The workers voted at a meeting in Tullamore last night to accept new proposals from the company on restructuring of seasonal peat production. Workers at four locations in the midlands had voted last month for a strike against earlier proposals.

Arramount seeks appointment of examiner

Arramount Furniture, which has seven shops across the country, is to seek the appointment of an interim examiner, it announced this afternoon.

The company, which employs 34 people, said it needed to begin examinership proceedings in an attempt put in place new refinancing arrangements for creditors and bankers. It is to seek the appointment of Kieran Wallace of KPMG, according to the Irish Times. The store was established in 1995 and has branches in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Newbridge, Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar.

Killeen Calls On EC To Stimulate Dairy Market

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., has pledged his support to measures being put forward by the Irish Government aimed at securing additional supports for the Dairy Industry.

The Clare Deputy said that the European Commission had been presented with a set of proposals including an extension of closing dates for private storage aid and the removal of the "free at frontier" price for cheese. “The European Commission must continue to support the milk market effectively, and that further support for the Dairy Industry is absolutely essential and urgently needed”, stated Minister of State Killeen.

He continued: “Along with my colleague Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith I urge the EC to consider removing the "free at frontier" price for cheese that is blocking the use of export refunds for certain cheeses. This is a self-imposed technical impediment not warranted in the current circumstances. Furthermore, the EC should consider extending intervention purchases of butter and skimmed milk powder beyond the end of August and extending closing dates for private storage aid.”

Minister of State Killeen stressed the need for the EC to continue to step up efforts to stabilise the situation and stimulate the market.

Redundancy deal for DHL workers

SIPTU members at DHL have voted by 93pc in favour of the redundancy terms negotiated over the weekend.

The package involves six weeks pay per year of service and some additional regular allowances have been incorporated in the calculations, reports businessworld.ie. The package is inclusive of statutory redundancy entitlements.

Employees also have the option of becoming Service Partners with DHL in locations where depots are closing, such as Athlone, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford.

Bord na Mona strike action is averted

Unions at Bord na Móna have deferred strike action after a meeting this morning.

It is understood that workers will be balloted on Thursday on new proposals from the company. RTE reports that a picket was placed on some Bord na Mána works this morning, but the action has now been lifted until the ballot in Tullamore.

Workers at Bord na Móna bogs in Offaly, Westmeath and Longford had voted in favour of strike action three weeks ago.

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.

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”.

Westmeath County Hall is officially opened

Westmeath's new County Buildings have been officially opened in Mullingar, following a two year construction project.

The council sought an energy efficient building that would provide comfortable working conditions, while working within its strict capital and operational budgets, reports Build.ie. The 74,900 square feet County Buildings incorporates low-energy, passive design concepts relying on a natural ventilation strategy throughout the building and maximised the use of natural light.

Bennett's Construction Ltd built the scheme, which was designed by architect Bucholz McEvoy.

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.