HSE West Defends Overspend

The Director of HSE West, Dr Seán Conroy, yesterday defended a €30 million overspend this year in operating the region’s hospitals, saying patients do not have heart attacks or have babies according to budget.

Dr Conroy was speaking at a meeting of the HSE West hospitals’ committee where members were told the cost overrun in the western hospital group was €22 million and in the midwest hospital group was €8 million to the end of July. According to today’s Irish Times newspaper, Senior HSE officials John Doyle and Alan Moran confirmed to members that bed closures would take place in the hospital network that serves an area stretching from Limerick to Donegal.

Speaking on the €22.7 million overspend to €403 million in the western hospital group, Mr Moran said the HSE would not be able to break even in the area by the end of the year, but increased efficiencies, bed closures and staff reductions would cut the deficit.

Minister Killeen Reports On Current Milk Super Levy Situation

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Tony Killeen TD, has announced that based on estimated milk deliveries as submitted by milk purchasers for the period up to 31 July 2009, Ireland is 6.73% under quota when account is taken of the butterfat content of milk deliveries during the same period.

Minister of State Killeen said that the rate of super levy for the 2009/10 period is EUR0.2783 per kilogram EUR0.286565 per litre). The milk super-levy and milk quotas were introduced in 1984 marking the first major changes to the CAP since Ireland's entry to the EEC. Sheep and sucker cow numbers increased as a result.

Ireland’s milk quota position is published on the Department’s website (http://www.agriculture.gov.ie) under ‘Publications’, followed by the relevant year.

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.

West Of Ireland Woman Dies From Swine Flu

A young woman from the west of Ireland has died from human swine flu at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin.

She is the first person to die from the H1N1 virus here since the first cases emerged in this country in May reports RTE NEWS. Department of Health officials said this evening that the woman had an underlying medical condition.

In a statement this evening, Tallaght Hospital said in order to protect the confidentiality and privacy of the family no personal details will be made available.

Agri-Food Sector Needs Support Of Irish Retailers

The viability of the agri-food sector is dependent on the commitment of the Irish retail sector to sourcing and providing a comprehensive range of familiar domestic products and brands.

That is according to Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen who this week said that the concentration at retail level has fundamentally changed the balance of market negotiating power in the food chain. Acknowledging that this was not an issue confined to Ireland, Minister of State Killeen added: “This is one factor behind the declining share of retail prices passed to agricultural producers. The Department has been working closely with the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan TD, and her Department on the details of a Code of Practice in this area, which will have as its key objective the need to achieve a balance in the relationship within the retail trade.”

The Clare T.D. explained, “The Irish Agri-food is Ireland’s most important indigenous sector, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout every county in the country, at both producer and processor level. I, along with my Department colleagues, will continue to impress upon large retailers the benefits of continuing to support, source and make available as wide and comprehensive a range of Irish products as possible.”

“While it is important that consumers continue to get value from retailers, it should be pointed out that a fair return to suppliers and producers is essential to the maintenance of thousands of Irish jobs and the survival of primary producers. The importance of a sector that supports, directly and indirectly, 230,000 jobs cannot be overstated. Furthermore, the sector has the potential to accelerate the country’s economic recovery”, he concluded.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dramatic rescue off Irish coast

A seriously ill sailor was airlifted to Shannon airport from a ship in the middle of the Atlantic yesterday in a rescue operation involving the Royal Air Force, the United States Air Force and the British coast guard.

At lunchtime on Thursday, the Pascha bulk carrier was 700 miles west of Ireland, reports the Irish Times newspaper. The crew reported that head chef Roque Bergado (34) was complaining of severe stomach pains.

The ship was well beyond the range of US and UK rescue helicopters. By 1.30pm yesterday, when helicopters reached the vessel, it was 400 miles west of Shannon. After being airlifted from the ship at 2.15pm, the patient was transferred to Limerick Regional Hospital.

Read more about the rescue from Military.com.

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.

Public consulted on proposed Sligo city bypass

Public consultation is to be held on a proposed bypass for County Sligo.

The county council's Sligo and Environs Development Plan identified the need for a Western By-pass in Sligo city, reports Build.ie.

At meetings of Sligo County Council in May 2008 and November 2008 it was resolved that a Western/City Bypass should be located west of Second Sea Road.

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”.

Body discovered at Rosses Point beach

Gardai in County Sligo say the discovery of a man's body this morning is not being treated as suspicious.

It was found at the well known Rosses Point beach at 6.30am. The body has yet to be identified but it's believed to be that of a man in his 50s or 60s.

MEPS Unite In Praise Of Irish Carers Advocate

Left to Right: Mary McMahon, Ireland, Henk Neis, Netherlands, Brigid Barron, Ireland, Raimondo Mandis, Italy, Geraldine Visser, Netherlands, Christine Marking, Brussels

The work of an Irish woman in representing Family Carers throughout Europe has been officially acknowledged by the European Parliament.

County Clare-based Brigid Barron has just completed five years leading Eurocarers - a not for profit and non-governmental organisation representing Family Carers, carers organisations and research and development groups in 17 European countries.

Ms. Barron, who is the organisation’s Founding President and is the Innovation and Programme Manager of Caring for Carers Ireland, acted as a voice for carers through advocating, raising awareness and contributing to policy development at national and EU levels.

According to Marian Harkin MEP, co-founder of the European Parliament Special Interest Group on Carers: “Eurocarers has acted as an anchor for those of us in the European Parliament who work on carers’ issues. They give strength and depth to the work we do in representing carers’ interests at EU level. Brigid Barron has given so much to the organisation. I have always found her to be very helpful and proactive in her work advocating for carers and their issues.”

Kathy Sinnott, former MEP and co-founder of the European Parliament Special Interest Group on Carers, added: “It has been a pleasure working with Brigid Barron over the past number of years. She has been an invaluable source of information and support in the creation of the European Parliament Interest Group on Carers, which I founded in 2007. Brigid is a dedicated and leading voice for carers not only in Ireland but across the EU."

There are 100 million carers in Europe. Up to 80% of all long-term care is provided by carers, mainly women with an average age of 55 years. Time spent caring is at least 20 hours per week, averaging over a period of 5 years. One of the aims of Eurocarers is that the members will exchange information and learn from each other. An example of this can be seen in Sweden where a National Competence Centre for Family Care Issues modelled on the Dutch Expertise Centre for Family Care has recently been established.

According to Brigid Barron: “To truly achieve equality for family carers we must act at a European level. There we can share the experiences of carers from many countries and learn from their stories and from the organisations that research in this area. So much national legislation flows from EU directives that it is the only way to go. Together we have a much stronger voice. That is why we founded Eurocarers.”

Mary McMahon, CEO of Caring for Carers Ireland, said Brigid Barron’s work was vital in advancing the cause of family carers at European level. “In her role, as President of Eurocarers, Brigid served family carers very well. Her passionate belief in the strength of numbers has meant that Eurocarers grew from an idea into an international organisation that puts carers concerns at the heart of Europe. Through Caring for Carers Ireland, Brigid will continue to promote, both nationally and internationally, recognition of carers and advocate for the development of services that can help them in their valuable work”, stated Ms. McMahon.

Connaught to face Madrid, Worcester Warriors and Montpellier in European Challenge Cup

Connacht will face Spanish invitation team Olympus Rugby XV Madrid, Worcester Warriors and Montpellier in Pool 2 of the 2009/10 European Challenge Cup.

London Wasps - former winners of both the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup - will face Rugby Calvisano, Bayonne and tournament newcomers Racing-Metro 92 in the Pool stages.

The tournament starts on the weekend of October 8-11.

City Mayors to be elected

Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Sligo will all elect mayors this evening following council meetings, reports RTE News.

Labour councillor Emer Costelloe is due to be elected Lord Mayor of Dublin City following a voting agreement between her party and Fine Gael. The two parties have a combined tally of 31 seats out of 52 on the council and will now rotate the office between them. The arrangement replaces a Fianna Fáil and Labour pact.

Fine Gael Councillor Dara Murphy is expected to be elected Lord Mayor of Cork. Cllr Murphy's election is being facilitated by a renewal of a pact between Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil.
Elsewhere, Fine Gael Councillor Kevin Kiely is likely to be elected Mayor of Limerick and the new Mayor of Sligo is Labour Councillor Jimmy McGarry.

Sligo nurses and midwives agree to Labour Court recommendation

The threat of further industrial action at Sligo General Hospital looks to have been lifted after nurses and midwives today voted overwhelmingly in favour of a Labour Court recommendation in their dispute over staffing levels.

Workers have already engaged in a day of industrial action after temporary staff members were let go and management proposed further cuts.

The Labour Court's recommendation includes an offer of re-employment with the HSE for the 19 temporary nurses that were let go. It also involves the continued employment of all temporary staff until there is a review of staffing levels.