There’s been plenty of lobbying of public officials and politicians on Brexit, according to the latest lobbying register.
Meat Industry Ireland’s Cormac Healy met with Department of Agriculture secretary general Brendan Gleeson to raise meat factories’ Brexit worries, as well as employment permits, EID and access to new markets. Agricultural economist Ciaran Fitzgerald also met Gleeson to highlight co-op concerns about access for Irish cheese to the UK.
But trade goes both ways, which is why Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed was lobbied by international flour maker Allied Mills, which was concerned that flour and bread exports from Belfast and Britain here could be subject to tariffs in a hard Brexit.
Most flour used by commercial bakeries here now comes from the UK.
The Irish Grain and Feed Association had other matters on its mind, meeting Department chief vet Martin Blake on the use of processed animal proteins in the animal feed chain.
Brendan Gleeson, secretary general at the Department of Agriculture.
Department watching Vet Council
I hear the Department of Agriculture is keeping a close eye on the Veterinary Council, including the ongoing interviews to appoint a new registrar.
Whoever is appointed to the €100,000 role will be the fifth registrar in 12 months.
Valerie Beatty stepped down last March after many years of service. Co Cork vet Bill Cashman was voted in as interim registrar by his fellow council vets.
However, within weeks he was gone after the Department advised that under the Veterinary Practices Act 2005 a sitting Council member could not be registrar.
The council then appointed Seán Brady on an interim basis. However, his contract was ended in November before a permanent replacement was appointed.
It was during his time that the council issued its controversial guidelines tightening rules on supply of antibiotics – after little consultation with stakeholders.
Fiona Tierney, former chief executive of the Public Appointments Service, has now been appointed as acting registrar – with the blessing of Department secretary general Brendan Gleeson.
The new registrar will have to sort out the controversy about ownership of practices. Last year the Council hired Grant Thornton to do a report on the issue. No report has been published.
Agri Aware election heats up
I hear the canvassing to get on the board of Agri Aware is intense ahead of the voting deadline next Tuesday 29 January.
Some 14 candidates are duking it out for just two seats on the board of the agri-educational body. Each of Agri Aware’s patrons, who elect the board, are being canvassed hard.
Those in the running include Barclay Bell (UFU), Anna Marie McHugh (NPA), Charles Smith (Kepak), Paul Nolan (Dawn Meats), Breian Carroll (ag adviser), Teddy Cashman (ifac), Tommy Boland (ASA), Kevin Walsh (IHFA), Michael Maher (Centenary Co-op), Tom Cunniffe (Aurivo), Lisa Herlihy (Dairymaster), Breda Leonard (Country Crest), Jane Marks (FRS) and Donal Hurley (Bandon Co-op).
I hear the vote will be tight.
Seven Six Nations farmers
I see that Joe Schmidt has included no fewer than seven farmers in his Six Nations squad. The Tullow tank Sean O’Brien returns after injury, Wexford’s Tadhg Furlong has cemented his spot in the front row along with Angus cattle farmer Rory Best.
Also named on the squad were dairy farmers CJ Stander and John Ryan. Will Addisson also joins the fray, who hails from a dairy farm in Cumbria. Rob Kearney, who grew up on a Louth farm, is also named in the squad.
Tractor stopped for being under speed limit
A farmer was stopped by gardaí in Clare during the week on the M18 for driving his tractor too slow. I’m told that by law a vehicle must be able to maintain a speed of 50km/h to travel on a motorway. In this case the maximum was 35km/h. The reason for the farmer taking the motorway? He was taking a shortcut between farms.
There was a huge turnout at Cahir Mart on Saturday at the wake of one of the mart’s best-loved characters, Murty (Martin) Cashman.
The popular drover spent much of his life at the mart and was held in the highest esteem by both staff and farmers. He was from Hogan Square in the town.
I’m told that the mart was like a second home to him and that he never missed a Wednesday sale.
European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan was on form as guest of honour at the Kilkenny IFA dinner dance on Saturday night.
Pointing out that all milk powder will soon be sold out of intervention, he noted that “Glanbia will have no excuse not to pay farmers a decent milk price.”
Clearly massgoers in Tullaroan have been making their feelings on milk price known to their European representative.
There’s been plenty of lobbying of public officials and politicians on Brexit, according to the latest lobbying register.
Meat Industry Ireland’s Cormac Healy met with Department of Agriculture secretary general Brendan Gleeson to raise meat factories’ Brexit worries, as well as employment permits, EID and access to new markets. Agricultural economist Ciaran Fitzgerald also met Gleeson to highlight co-op concerns about access for Irish cheese to the UK.
But trade goes both ways, which is why Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed was lobbied by international flour maker Allied Mills, which was concerned that flour and bread exports from Belfast and Britain here could be subject to tariffs in a hard Brexit.
Most flour used by commercial bakeries here now comes from the UK.
The Irish Grain and Feed Association had other matters on its mind, meeting Department chief vet Martin Blake on the use of processed animal proteins in the animal feed chain.
Brendan Gleeson, secretary general at the Department of Agriculture.
Department watching Vet Council
I hear the Department of Agriculture is keeping a close eye on the Veterinary Council, including the ongoing interviews to appoint a new registrar.
Whoever is appointed to the €100,000 role will be the fifth registrar in 12 months.
Valerie Beatty stepped down last March after many years of service. Co Cork vet Bill Cashman was voted in as interim registrar by his fellow council vets.
However, within weeks he was gone after the Department advised that under the Veterinary Practices Act 2005 a sitting Council member could not be registrar.
The council then appointed Seán Brady on an interim basis. However, his contract was ended in November before a permanent replacement was appointed.
It was during his time that the council issued its controversial guidelines tightening rules on supply of antibiotics – after little consultation with stakeholders.
Fiona Tierney, former chief executive of the Public Appointments Service, has now been appointed as acting registrar – with the blessing of Department secretary general Brendan Gleeson.
The new registrar will have to sort out the controversy about ownership of practices. Last year the Council hired Grant Thornton to do a report on the issue. No report has been published.
Agri Aware election heats up
I hear the canvassing to get on the board of Agri Aware is intense ahead of the voting deadline next Tuesday 29 January.
Some 14 candidates are duking it out for just two seats on the board of the agri-educational body. Each of Agri Aware’s patrons, who elect the board, are being canvassed hard.
Those in the running include Barclay Bell (UFU), Anna Marie McHugh (NPA), Charles Smith (Kepak), Paul Nolan (Dawn Meats), Breian Carroll (ag adviser), Teddy Cashman (ifac), Tommy Boland (ASA), Kevin Walsh (IHFA), Michael Maher (Centenary Co-op), Tom Cunniffe (Aurivo), Lisa Herlihy (Dairymaster), Breda Leonard (Country Crest), Jane Marks (FRS) and Donal Hurley (Bandon Co-op).
I hear the vote will be tight.
Seven Six Nations farmers
I see that Joe Schmidt has included no fewer than seven farmers in his Six Nations squad. The Tullow tank Sean O’Brien returns after injury, Wexford’s Tadhg Furlong has cemented his spot in the front row along with Angus cattle farmer Rory Best.
Also named on the squad were dairy farmers CJ Stander and John Ryan. Will Addisson also joins the fray, who hails from a dairy farm in Cumbria. Rob Kearney, who grew up on a Louth farm, is also named in the squad.
Tractor stopped for being under speed limit
A farmer was stopped by gardaí in Clare during the week on the M18 for driving his tractor too slow. I’m told that by law a vehicle must be able to maintain a speed of 50km/h to travel on a motorway. In this case the maximum was 35km/h. The reason for the farmer taking the motorway? He was taking a shortcut between farms.
There was a huge turnout at Cahir Mart on Saturday at the wake of one of the mart’s best-loved characters, Murty (Martin) Cashman.
The popular drover spent much of his life at the mart and was held in the highest esteem by both staff and farmers. He was from Hogan Square in the town.
I’m told that the mart was like a second home to him and that he never missed a Wednesday sale.
European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan was on form as guest of honour at the Kilkenny IFA dinner dance on Saturday night.
Pointing out that all milk powder will soon be sold out of intervention, he noted that “Glanbia will have no excuse not to pay farmers a decent milk price.”
Clearly massgoers in Tullaroan have been making their feelings on milk price known to their European representative.
SHARING OPTIONS