Wicklow And Southside Dart Services Affected By Bridge Strike In Dublin

Rail services in Dublin are delayed this morning after a bridge was hit between Landsdowne Road and Grand Canal Dock stations.

DART and commuter services from Arklow and Gorey are still running 20 minutes behind schedule reports RTE News. Services had been suspended between the two stations earlier.

Leinster And Munster To Name Sides For Magners Clash

Munster and Leinster are due to name their teams today for tomorrow's Magners League showdown at the RDS.

The two Irish provinces are level on points in second and third place on the table reports breakingnews.ie. Tomorrow's clash will be the first time this season that both sides have their full complement of Irish internationals available for selection.

All the Lions stars are back in action, but Munster captain Paul O'Connell and Leinster centre Brian O'Driscoll missed last weekend's matches with hamstring strains and are unlikely to last the 80 minutes.

Swine Flu Deaths Recorded In West And East Of Ireland

Two more people have died from human swine flu in Ireland, the Health Service Executive has confirmed today.

The HSE said one woman was from the west of the country and the other from the eastern region. Both women had underlying medical conditions.

Their deaths bring the total number of swine flu fatalities in the Republic to four.

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.

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.

Minister Killeen Launches The COFORD Publication 'Forest Fungi In Ireland'

Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, today officially launched the publication Forest Fungi of Ireland at Avondale House, Rathdrum County Wicklow.

The publication details 43 edible types of mushroom, 14 types best not eaten and thirteen highly poisonous types. The publication, which encourages people to forage for wild natural and edible fungi, provides clear illustrations and descriptions of various fungi. It was funded by COFORD and is based on the experiences of the authors, Paul Dowding and Louis Smith, in identifying, collecting and eating wild fungi in Ireland.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Killeen pointed out the many benefits of woodlands. He said: "It is clear from this publication there are non timber benefits to be gained from our woodlands that have not been fully exploited to date and undoubtedly there is great scope for expansion in this area".

Further information on fungi in the Irish countryside can be found at www.fungus.ie. Copies of the publication can be bought from COFORD at www.coford.ie.

Closing Date Nears For Submissions To Organic Farming Scheme Review

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Tony Killeen, T.D., has reminded stakeholders in the organic sector and the general public that the deadline for submissions to the review of the Organic Farming Scheme is Friday, 4 September.

Last month the Department of Agriculture announced a review of the Organic Farming Scheme under which support is paid to farmers in the sector. According to Minister of State Killeen: "The review will look at how available funds can be used to best effect to deliver increased organic production and expand the area of farmland in the sector. As part of this review, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is developing a set of criteria for selecting those applications that are most likely to contribute to the scheme objectives."

The Clare Deputy added: "The Department is inviting submissions from stakeholders in the organic sector and from the general public. The deadline for submissions is Friday, 4 September." Submissions should be sent by email if possible to organics@agriculture.gov.ie or by post to the Organic Unit, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co Wexford.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Killeen has reiterated his call for the European Commission to introduce further measures that will help stimulate the Irish dairy sector. The Junior Agriculture Minister said further action was needed to increase dairy intervention prices, along with the scope and level of export refunds. "The European Commission must urgently consider such actions due to the current downturn in milk prices. I believe there is an urgent need for the Commissioner to develop a medium term strategy to enable the sector to manage the transition to a post-quota era and to deal with the effects of market volatility", he commented.

Minister Killeen noted that Agriculture Ministers from throughout the Union would have an opportunity to address the problems in the dairy sector at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers on 7 September next.

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

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”.

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

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.

Electricians go on strike

Over 10,000 electricians across the country are staging a strike today in a dispute over pay.

Electricians are looking for an 11.3% increase which they say is overdue. Employers say their claim is unrealistic in the current economic climate and want a 10% pay cut from the electricians.

Meanwhile, a picket by the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union has been placed at the Moneypoint ESB Station, near Kilrush. RTE reports that a number of workers at the plant did not pass the picket this morning but it is not clear how many. A spokesperson for Eirgrid said there was no threat to electricity supply but that the situation continues to be monitored by them and the ESB.

Today's action, which does not affect electricity supply, follows the collapse of talks at the Labour Relations Commission over the weekend.

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)