Killeen Welcomes Introduction Of Dairy Efficiency Programme

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen has welcomed the announcement of a new three-year Dairy Efficiency Programme under which EUR18 million will be spent in encouraging significant efficiency gains on Irish dairy farms.

The Programme will support the transfer to milk producers of technology and knowledge that will help them to adopt best practice in the running of their enterprises.

Commenting on the background to the new programme, Minister of State Killeen said: “The dairy industry, while open to great opportunities, faces also many challenges as it prepares for quota abolition and the realities of competing in a global marketplace. At producer level the focus must be on maximising efficiency in order to compete and to cope with periods of severe volatility like that which we have recently experienced. The Government's commitment to the development of the Smart Economy is therefore as relevant to dairying as it is to any other sector of the economy. Initiatives like the Dairy Efficiency Programme exemplify that commitment, and indeed are vital in ensuring that the fine work being done in agricultural colleges around the country is carried through to full-time careers in farming."

Commenting further on the programme, the Clare Fianna Fail T.D. indicated that EUR6 million will be made available in each of 2010, 2011 and 2012 to encourage the participation by dairy farmers in the programme. The groups which will operate under the programme will be formed and assisted by facilitators who have been trained by Teagasc to a FETAC-accredited standard, will place particular emphasis on the adoption of best practice in relation to grassland management, breeding and financial management. Participants in the programme will have their progress monitored by their facilitator, and they will be required to meet certain standards in relation to attendance and project completion. In return they will receive a payment at the end of each year, with the level of payment determined by the participation rate in the Programme.

Minister of State Killeen added: "The availability of unspent Single Payment Scheme funds arising from the Health Check agreement provides an opportunity to further reinforce the initiatives that the Department has undertaken to help the dairy industry to look to the future with optimism. The Dairy Efficiency Programme will complement the innovative approach already taken to the Milk Quota Trading Scheme, to the modernisation of the milk quota regulations, to the encouragement of Milk Production Partnerships, to the allocation of quota to new entrants and to the support of future-oriented dairy research.”

Further details in relation to the Dairy Efficiency Programme, which will be up and running as will be up-and-running as early as possible in 2010, will be made available shortly”, he concluded.

Ennis Drinking Water Alert Is Lifted

Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council, following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), have removed with immediate effect a drinking water alert that was affecting 30,000 customers of the Ennis Public Water Supply.

Following successful commissioning of the new Ennis Water Treatment Plant and consultation between Clare County Council and the HSE Mid West Area, it has been concluded that the HSE / Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria for lifting the partial, precautionary boil water notice have been met. The criteria include water quality, plant commissioning, sustainability of process and epidemiological evidence.

This precautionary boil notice, which has been in place since May 2005, was applicable to Ennis town and surrounding areas, including Clarecastle and environs, Crusheen, Barefield, Doora, Drumcliff and Spancilhill and Group Water Schemes on the supply.

Welcoming the decision to lift the drinking water alert, Mr. Tom Coughlan, Clare County Manager said: “Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council acknowledge the patience, co-operation and assistance of the general public during the period of the boil water notice and greatly regrets any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community.”

For further information contact Ennis Town Council (065-6828040), Clare County Council (065-6846337), HSE Mid West Area - Medical Queries (061-483338) or HSE Mid West Area - Local Environmental Health Department (065-6868000).

Killeen Secures Fair Deal On Quotas For Irish Fishermen

Mr Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has welcomed the final package of measures agreed at the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels.

Emerging from almost 36 hours of intensive negotiations at the annual ‘Fish Quotas’ meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, Minister Killeen expressed satisfaction that Ireland had, in the end, secured a package that provides a balanced and fair outcome for Irish fishermen. The preparatory meeting on Sunday night between the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) and other industry representatives was enormously beneficial in setting Ireland’s priorities and Minister Killeen ensured regular meetings and contacts over the period of the negotiations to keep industry informed and to gain an understanding of the impacts of proposals on Ireland’s industry as they emerged.

An ongoing disagreement between the EU and Norway in respect of mackerel fishing overshadowed this year’s meeting and made the job of setting quotas for EU fishermen even more difficult than normal. Minister Killeen had to fight all the way to the end of the two day marathon to ensure that the lack of agreement between the EU and Norway did not adversely impact on the mackerel fleet.

Minister Killeen said: “Without an EU/ Norway agreement there was a real danger that the Irish mackerel fleet would be severely limited in terms of the amount of the mackerel quota it would be permitted to fish. I secured a provisional quota of 65% of the 2009 for them which is available for fishing from the start of the year. I also secured assurances from the Council that any new agreement will be fairer in the benefits and costs it delivered for all Member States”.

In the past Ireland contributed more in the transfer of fishing quotas to Norway than it gained from access to fish stock in Norwegian waters. On the whitefish stocks Minister Killeen fought the now annual action to ensure that the commitment of Ireland’s hard pressed fishermen – the Hague Agreement – was fully honoured by his European counterparts. This was particularly important this year as major reductions in the total allowed catch (TAC) of a number of key stocks were proposed by the EU Commission. Stocks of cod, haddock and prawns – amongst the most important to the whitefish fleet – were all in line for big reductions.
 
Minister Killeen explained: “In the case of prawns, I accepted the need for change to ensure the long term sustainability of this important stock but successfully gathered support amongst my colleagues in the council for a plan, proposed by the FIF that will see a seasonal closure off the south west coast in the summer months when it is most vulnerable to over-fishing. On the basis of this plan I was able to substantially reduce the TAC cut of 50% recommended by International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to 9%. This is the most important stock for our whitefish fleet and I am satisfied that I have delivered both necessary conservation measures where these are required and a realistic quota for the prawn stocks where the science shows that the stock is healthy.”

The Minister also secured commitments for a review and early amendment of the restrictions on whitefish fishing off Donegal introduced at last December’s fisheries council. In addition a proposed cut of 54% for the haddock TAC was cut to a more reasonable 25%. Minister Killeen commented: “Whilst accepting a reduction in the total catch of haddock off Ireland’s north west coast on scientific grounds I effectively argued for a more balanced approach that will see the scale of reductions lessened, a new long term management plan for the haddock stock agreed and a full review during early 2010 of the harsh restrictions put in place last year with the aim of making changes as early as possible in 2010.”

The Commission also proposed a 25% cut in the very important Celtic Sea cod TAC. However, Minister Killeen successfully argued that Ireland requires new and better data on the state of this stock which fishermen argue is in better shape than other cod stocks around the coast. He added: “At council I secure a rollover of the 2009 TAC to reflect recent catches. We need fishermen and scientists to work together in partnership so that we have improved knowledge that will support any necessary actions in order that this stock does not need a harsh recovery plan like we have in the Irish Sea and off Donegal”.

Finally, Minister Killeen paid tribute to the work of Irish fishermen that lead to the recovery of the important Celtic Sea herring stock. Fishermen in the south west working together with the marine Institute scientists developed a long term plan for this stock.

“This is effectively an Irish stock as we have the bulk of the quota and it was facing collapse two years ago. Fishermen had the courage to take the very difficult decisions required to rebuild the stock and I am delighted such positive results with a TAC increase of 71%. This is a fine example of how working together and taking strong action can pay dividends”, concluded Minister of State Killeen.