WESTMEATH - Major Fire Destroys Moate Businesses

A commercial premises in Moate, Co Westmeath, has been extensively damaged by an overnight fire.

Around half of the town remains sealed off this morning following the blaze, with motorists being advised to use the bypass where possible reports breakingnews.ie. Four businesses are believed to operate from the building that was damaged by the fire, the cause of which is still unknown.

Nobody was injured during the blaze.

Department Of Health Confirms Tenth Swine Flu Related Death

A woman in the south has become the tenth person to die from human swine flu in the Republic of Ireland.

The Department of Health and the HSE confirmed this evening that the woman died from the H1N1 virus reportS RTE. The woman had an underlying health condition, but the department have not released any further details relating to her death.

Minister for Health Mary Harney has offered her sympathy to the family and friends of the woman.

Developing Export Markets Is Key To Success Of Pig Sector

Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, this week said the development of export markets was critically important to the success of the Irish pig sector.

The Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare was speaking following the IFA National Pig Farmers’ Forum in Athlone, Co Westmeath. He noted that the Government was fully committed to the Irish pig industry and that efforts to develop new export markets were key to the continued growth of the sector. He continued: “I wish to commend Bord Bia for the contribution they make to maintaining existing and developing new markets for Irish exports. Bord Bia, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, have done excellent work in regaining access to most markets within a short time of them being closed following the dioxin incident. I hope that the current efforts to reopen access to the Russian and Chinese markets will bear fruit in the near future”.

Commenting on the Government’s commitment to developing the sector, Minister of State Killeen stated: “The Government’s prompt and decisive action following the dioxin incident is evidence of that commitment while considerable support is made available to the sector through investment schemes.”

Meanwhile, the Junior Agriculture stressed the importance of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme. He added: “Pork and bacon produced under the Quality Assurance Scheme is widely recognised by consumers as a guarantee of quality and origin of the product. The Quality scheme covers all areas of concern to the public in the area of meat production including welfare, safety and traceability. There is an excellent level of participation in the Scheme by both producers and processors”.

Regarding the future outlook for the sector, Minister of State Killeen noted the Development Strategy that was drawn up by Teagasc in consultation with stakeholders. “A steering group has been progressing the Strategy’s recommendations and the Department of Agriculture should receive the group’s interim report in the coming months”, he concluded.

Department Raises Difficulties In Farming Sector With Banks

Minister of State and Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Tony Killeen has confirmed that the Department of Agriculture met with Irish banks at the weekend to encourage Irish banks to extend normal working capital facilities to farmers.

The meeting between Minister Killeen’s Department, the major banks and the Irish Banking Federation focused on the ongoing credit difficulties being experienced in the farming sector. According to Minister of State Killeen: “The banks recognise the current short-term difficulties faced by farmers and have made it clear that they are open for business. The are, however, encouraging farmers to initiate contact at an early juncture in instances where difficulties with regards to short term financing and sourcing working capital are envisaged.”

He emphasised the difficulties associated with poor weather conditions as well as low prices, particularly in the dairy sector, and said that “farmers require access to higher levels of short and medium term credit facilities to assist in weathering the current storm”.

The Junior Agriculture Minister added: “The Department of Agriculture will persist with its efforts to impress upon and facilitate banks in providing more assistance to their farmer clients at this very difficult time, particularly having regard to low product prices this year. The ongoing discussions with the IBF and the banks with regard to agri-sector issues including credit to farmers represents a significant component of the ongoing Government objective to free up lending on a commercial basis into the economy as a whole.”

It is anticipated that the ongoing discussions between the Department of Agriculture, the IBF and the banks will also compliment the work of the Credit Supply Clearing Group, which was established to identify credit bottlenecks to viable businesses and to seek to identify credit supply solutions. This group includes representatives from the main banks, business interests, including the farming sector, and state agencies.

EU Committed To Supporting Dairy Sector Says Killeen

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., has welcomed a commitment by the European Commission to take further emergency action in the event of market volatility in the milk sector.

The Fianna Fail TD for Clare was speaking after an emergency meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Brussels yesterday, which follows weeks of protest over the decline in milk prices. He said: “This meeting provided an opportunity to Member States and the Commission to have a full and open discussion on the very difficult market situation being faced by dairy producers. Among the matters discussed by Ministers were proposals put forward by France and solutions suggested earlier by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm in charge of farm policy.”

Minister of State Killeen added: “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. It is reassuring to see that significant progress is now being made on advancing proposals from a large number of Member States. I am especially delighted to learn that EU Agriculture Commissioner Ms Fischer Boel has confirmed that a proposed high-level group of experts will begin meeting next week to look at medium and long-term solutions including contractual issues between producers and dairies and a possible dairy futures market”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Killeen welcomed the Commission declaration that stocks of butter and skimmed milk powder would not be released from intervention until the market situation had been stabilised. The Agriculture Council is scheduled to return to the situation of the milk market at its next meeting in Luxembourg on 19th October.

Majority Yes Vote Is Likely Lisbon Treaty Result - Fine Gael Exit Poll

Ireland's second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is set to see a majority for the Yes side, according to an exit poll carried out by the country's opposition party, Fine Gael.

A spokesperson for the party told EUobserver that the private poll had shown that around 60 percent of people voted in favour of the treaty, reports EUobserver). The exit poll is based on 1,000 voters from 33 locations around the country. With 80 percent of the exit poll votes counted, the result shows 60 percent in favour and 40 percent against, said the spokesperson late on Friday evening (2 October).

Billy Timmins, director of elections for the party said: "These are very encouraging numbers for the Yes side and it's a testament to all the hard work done by Fine Gael and all those on the Yes side." The final result of the referendum will be announced on Saturday afternoon with official counting to begin early in the morning.

State broadcaster RTE reported that early indications of voter turnout show that more people went to the polls than in June last year, when Irish voters rejected the treaty by 53.4 to 46.6 percent on a turnout of 53.1 percent.

A Yes result will be strongly welcomed by Prime Minister Brian Cowen. His unpopular government had struggled with the task of trying to sell the treaty to the 3 million-strong electorate even as it trailed in the polls. It will also be greeted with huge relief in Brussels, where EU officials have been waiting with high anticipation to see whether Ireland would join the 26 other member states who have completed parliamentary ratification of the treaty, or reject the document again, a move that would have resulted in the agreement being binned for good.

If the Yes vote is confirmed, the focus will immediately turn to Polish President Lech Kaczynski and Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose signatures are needed to complete ratification in both countries. The Polish president has previously indicated that he would sign the treaty soon after a Yes vote in Ireland. But Mr Klaus has given little indication of when he would be prepared to take the same step, amid a fresh court challenge against the text. The treaty needs to be ratified in all 27 member states to come into force.

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.

Killeen Stresses Importance Of Lisbon Treaty In Tackling Climate Change

Minister of State and Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Tony Killeen today said that Ireland's policy and contribution on tackling climate change is increasingly shaped by our membership of the European Union, where we in turn can exert influence on the wider world.

Speaking during a visit to County Clare by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Minister of State Killeen stressed the importance of a yes vote in the upcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum. He stated: “The European Union has taken a global lead on Climate Change with a unilateral 20% reduction in green house gas emissions by 2020 and a commitment to step-up this target to 30% in the event of world leaders reaching an effective and meaningful deal in December.”

Minister of State Killeen added that Ireland sought and secured EU agreement to the explicit inclusion of combating climate change as an EU competence in the Lisbon Treaty. “Ireland fully supports the EU policy in tackling climate change and the important role it is playing in the lead up to Copenhagen. There is no better demonstration of the importance and effectiveness of the EU to its citizens and the wider global community,” he commented.

14 Budget Travel Stores To Close

Budget Travel has confirmed that it will close 14 of its stores around the country by the end of next month.

The company says it is still talking to staff about the number of redundancies that are likely to result from the closures, RTE News reports. In the middle of last August, the company announced it had begun a 30 day consultation process with staff, which was likely to result in the closure of 14 of its 31 stores, and the loss of 95 jobs between the shops and head office.

The shops that will close are at Athlone, Clonmel, two in Cork, two in Dublin, Dundalk, Ennis, Finglas, Limerick, Mullingar, Swords, Tralee and Wexford.

Acceptance Of Lisbon Treaty Will Aid Irish Economic Recovery Says Killeen

Junior Minister and Clare Deputy Tony Killeen has said that Ireland's acceptance of the Lisbon Treaty in the upcoming Referendum would greatly assist Irish economic recovery and ensure that the country remained at the centre of Europe.

Minister of State Killeen noted that the scale of the current economic challenges could only be tackled by countries working more closely together. He continued: "We need an efficient and reformed EU to help us. Europe has listened to the Irish people and has given new guarantees on all of the main issues from last year. The Treaty is subject to these legal guarantees. Bearing in mind that in over 50 years the EU has fully honoured every one of many similar guarantees, we can be sure that voting Yes to Lisbon is a vote for economic recovery in both Ireland and Europe. No is the vote for Ireland taking a step away in a new and more uncertain direction".

Commenting on the legal guarantees received from the EU in June, Minister of State Killeen pointed out: "Voting Yes will ensure Ireland retains its Commissioner. A No vote will mean current rules remain, which means the loss of automatic Commission membership immediately. In 2008, 80% of people were concerned about this issue. It has now been addressed."

"Voting Yes will enhance Ireland's ability to attract investment. The people who invest in Ireland and support hundred of thousands of jobs say that confidence in our position as a Euro-positive country matters a lot for them. Only a Yes will help maintain confidence at this difficult time. Voting Yes is also good for workers and social protection. The Treaty is based on the idea of enabling both growth and social protection, building on the Union's role as the great protection of workers and consumers", he added.

Minister of State Killeen said that Ireland needed a reformed EU to tackle the economic crisis. "A Union frozen in the past is of no use to anyone, but a Union that is more dynamic and effective is essential for our future. A more efficient EU is to our benefit. We also need to send a strong signal to our EU partners and to international investors that we are a fully engaged EU country. Ratifying Lisbon will send this vital signal", he concluded.

New Animal Welfare Guidelines Are Launched

The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) today launched a new booklet entitled 'Animal Welfare Guidelines for Managing Acutely Injured Livestock on Farm'.

The publication sets out a procedure for managing an injured animal on farm including live transport to a slaughterhouse or transport following an emergency slaughter on farm. Stakeholders outside of FAWAC involved with veterinary public health issues have also been consulted in drafting the guidelines.

Welcoming the launch of the new booklet, Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., said the guidelines set out very comprehensively a method for managing injured livestock. The Clare T.D. added: These guidelines not which not only protects the welfare of the animal but also safeguards consumer health by providing very clear protocols to be followed by the farmer, his/her private veterinary practitioner and the slaughter plant in managing the injured animal".

"The procedure now in place will support farmers and their private veterinary practitioners in arriving at an informed decision on how best to deal with an injured animal. In establishing this protocol, which is provided for in European hygiene legislation and which specifically applies to healthy animals that have suffered some form of accident on farm, it provides an opportunity for farmers to achieve an economic benefit from some animals which heretofore would have had to be disposed of as fallen stock", stated Minister of State Killeen.

The booklet is available on the FAWAC website at www.fawac.ie or from the FAWAC Secretariat - email FAWAC@agriculture.gov.ie

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.

EU Agriculture Ministers Seek Improvements For Dairy Market

Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen has backed calls by fifteen EU Member States for major improvements in support for hard-pressed dairy farmers.

The call was made at a meeting of the EU council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels this week. The 15 Ministers agreed that additional rapid action at EU level was required to deal with the critical situation on European milk markets driven by the global economic crisis.

According to Minister of State Killeen: “The group called for a comprehensive EU approach combining immediate short-term measures along with a medium term strategy to deal with volatility in the milk sector. I am especially heartened by the strong support from so many Member States for effective action on these issues. It is critically important for these countries to continue to work closely together to ensure that this leads to real and immediate action leading to the recovery in the EU milk market and realistic prices for farmers.”

He continued: “Among the measures being called for is a temporary increase in the intervention price, and careful management of the disposal of intervention stocks; increased export refunds for butter, milk powder and cheese, while avoiding any distortions in developing country markets; the reactivation of aid for use of milk powder in animal feed; and consideration of measures to modernise and adapt the dairy sector.”

Minister of State Killeen welcomed the sense of urgency among Ministers to redress the increasing divergence between prices paid to farmers and those charged to consumers. “Ministers overwhelmingly supported recommendations from a high-level group to examine the balance in relationships between retailers, processors and producers and to improve the transparency of price formation at every stage in the food chain”, concluded Minister Killeen.

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”.

Killeen Welcomes Public Consultation On CAP

Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen has welcomed the commencement of a public consultation process on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2013.

Individuals and organisations are being given until the end of September to forward submissions regarding the shape and content of the revised policy. Minister of State Killeen said: “This public consultation process has been launched to find out what programmes people think will best serve Ireland and the EU in the future. The Department of Agriculture has also prepared an information note outlining some of the options being put forward for European agricultural policy after 2013, and setting out briefly the views that Ireland has expressed to date.”

Currently there is a review in train of all aspects of the EU budget. This will be followed by negotiations to determine the composition of the next Financial Perspective of the EU from 2014 to 2020, including the funding available for agriculture and rural development. Parallel with this process, the 27 Member States and the Commission are in the early stages of considering the shape and content of the CAP for the period after 2013.

“A number of common themes and key issues are already emerging from these debates and they, together with discussions on the future EU budget, are set to inform the concrete proposals that will be tabled at a later date. For these reasons the Minister for Agriculture has decided to undertake a consultation process with Irish stakeholders to obtain their views on what EU agriculture policies they believe will serve Ireland and the EU best in the years to come”, commented Minister of State Killeen.

Written submissions should be sent by email to cap@agriculture.gov.ie or by post to EU Trade Division, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Floor 6 Centre, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 marked “Submission on CAP after 2013”. The deadline for receipt of submissions is Wednesday 30 September 2009. The consultation document is available on the Department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie. It is also available on request from EU Trade Division, telephone number 01 607 2422 or 607 2813 or email to cap@agriculture.gov.ie

Bord Na Móna Plans 300 New Jobs

Bord na Móna has announced plans to create 300 new jobs as part of a major expansion into green technologies.

The semi-state company says the positions will be created in areas like biomass production, wind energy, resource recovery and environmental solutions. The production of peat from Irish bogs is due to be phased out over the coming 15 years.

However, Bord na Mona says it plans to develop wind farms on many of its bogs across the country and also hopes to become the market leader in organic waste recovery.

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”.

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.

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