Important Opportunities to Improve Competitiveness
IRELAND - Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment yesterday (Wednesday), IFA President John Bryan called on the Government to show their commitment to maximising the potential of the...

Irish Minister Meets EU Commissioner on CAP
IRELAND - The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Brendan Smith this week met EU Agriculture Commissioner, Dacian Ciolos, to discuss the upcoming negotiations on the CAP after 2013.

Plight of Pig and Poultry Sectors Goes Unrecognised
IRELAND - IFA Pigs Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan said, “Having reviewed the consultation paper released by the Department of Agriculture on the ‘Nitrates Regulations, I am horrified to see that the...

Pig Grant Scheme Not Enough to Aid Sector
IRELAND - IFA Pigs Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan said that the introduction of the Pigs Welfare Scheme, while welcome, is not enough to help pig producers comply with the regulations.

€29 M Welfare Schemes for Pig, Poultry Producers
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, yesterday announced details of two new on-farm investment schemes designed to improve the standards of animal welfare in sow...

IFA: Measures to Follow Pig and Poultry Scheme
IRELAND - IFA President John Bryan said the introduction of the Pigs & Poultry Welfare Scheme was welcome news for producers in these sectors under financial pressure to meet very high standards imposed...

Nitrates Review Must Safeguard Existing Derogation
IRELAND - Following the publication of the Nitrates review document, IFA President John Bryan has urged the Environment Minister John Gormley and Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to ensure the interests...

Intensive Farming Left Out of Nitrates Plan
IRELAND - The Department of Agriculture is calling on all parties to provide feedback on the proposed Nitrates Action Plan. The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has expressed concerns about its impact on...

IFA Accuses Lidl of Hoodwinking Pig Producers
IRELAND - Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Pigs Committee Chairman, Tim Cullinan, has said that he was very annoyed that promises made to producers by Lidl have not been delivered, based on the most recent...

Pork Crisis Payout Lower than Estimated
IRELAND - The State's compensation bill for the pork contamination crisis is set to be up to €70m lower than originally estimated.

Temporary Stay Granted in Pig Feed Case
IRELAND - A businessman being sued over the pigfeed dioxin contamination scandal is appealing against the High Court’s refusal to halt the case against him and his company.

Aujeszky’s Disease ‘Almost Eliminated’ in Pigs
IRELAND - Aujesky's Disease has been practically eliminated from Ireland following two national testing phases, Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith has disclosed.

Increased Checks on Mechanical Classification Urged
IRELAND - IFA National Livestock Chairman Michael Doran said the Department of Agriculture must increase its levels of supervision in the meat plants to guarantee the accuracy of mechanical classifica...

Pig Disease Control and Eradication Programme
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, is delighted to announce that Ireland has achieved an important EU milestone in receiving official recognition of the country's...

Ag Minister Calls for 'Coherent Animal Health Policy'
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, yesterday advocated "a new coherent animal health policy - one that is more flexible, risk-based, prevention-orientated and...

Irish Pig Herds Declared Practically Aujeszky-Free
IRELAND - Brendan Smith TD, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is pleased to announce significant progress with the National Aujeszky's Disease Control and Eradication Programme and has...

Introduction of Code Urged to Avoid Pork Mislabelling
IRELAND - A leading pig producer has called on the Department of Agriculture to follow the example of its counterpart in the UK, which introduced a new code of practice to combat pork there being mislabelled...

€1.185M Funding For Animal Welfare Organisations
IRELAND - Payments totalling €1.185 million have been approved to 112 organisations involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services to assist with their work during 2010.

Proceedings Begin Over Pork Dioxin Crisis
IRELAND - The County Wexford company at the centre of the pork dioxin scare last year has begun proceedings for €36 million against the company it says sold it contaminated oil.

Minister Smith Underlines Commitment to Pig Sector
IRELAND - Speaking at the IFA National Pig Farmers' Forum in Athlone on Friday (16 October), the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, emphasised his commitment to the Irish pig...

Compensation over Pork Contamination Paid Out
IRELAND - More than €100 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent by the Government on compensation to farmers and processors following last December’s pork contamination scandal.

Agriculture Minister Outlines Pig Scheme
IRELAND - Pig farmers have welcomed the €13m scheme for converting sows to loose housing - a scheme recently announced by agriculture minister Brendan Smith.

Ireland Needs Better Pig Meat Traceability
IRELAND - The present system for monitoring and tracing Irish pork products is ineffective and significant changes are required in order to avoid a repeat of the total recall of Irish pork products which...

Minister Expected to Act on Fallen Animal Commitment
IRELAND - Following a meeting with Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith, the IFA Deputy President Derek Deane said the commitment given to him by the Minister Smith to provide real competition in the...

Responsibility for Fallen Animals Rests with Minister
IRELAND - IFA Deputy President Derek Deane has said there is room for significant cost reduction in the disposal of fallen animals. However, this can only be achieved by breaking the cartel that currently...

EU Law Redraft Could Mean Permit Costs Hike
IRELAND - A proposed redrafting of European Union legislation on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) could result in pig producers facing the prospect of paying an extra €25,000 per permit...

Irish Pork Trade to South Africa Resumes
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD welcomed confirmation from the South African Department of Agriculture that they have decided to lift trade restrictions on...

Agri Minister Launches Animal Health Ireland
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr Brendan Smith TD yesterday formally launched Animal Health Ireland (AHI), which aims to improve overall animal health standards and thereby...

IFA: Food Safety Task Force Established
IRELAND - Professor Patrick Wall of UCD today addressed the IFA Executive Council on the newly-established Food Safety Task Force announced by IFA President at the AGM on Tuesday (27 January 2009). ...

Irish Pork Sector Still Facing Tough Times
IRELAND - A clearer picture of the damage done to the €1 billion pork industry caused by the dioxin crisis emerged yesterday.