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Live exporters have been invited to gather in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, on Wednesday next to hopefully form a representative association.
Two similar invitations went out in recent months but the proposed meetings did not take place.
Exporters are more used to gouging and polling each other around the mart sales rings than working for the common good.
This invitation is a bit different in that it has been sent out by Co Sligo man Paul Clarke.
Although an exporter, he can be viewed as a neutral party. He was president of the last exporter association when it was operating about 15 years ago.
He has said he will convene next week’s meeting but then let exporters select someone to represent them.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and his officials have made it clear they would like to see one unified voice speak for exporters.
An association could have input with the Department and the EU on export rules. It could provide a much-needed defence of their industry against the claims made by protesters opposed to the live trade.
The Dealer hears Michael Scannell is likely to become the new deputy director of DG Agri, the European Commission’s department of agriculture.
The Irishman is currently acting deputy director and would succeed Rudolf Mogele, who retired last month.
Scannell, a UCD graduate, has spent most of his career in the DG Sante, the Health and Food Safety wing of the Commission. He came home for a spell as head of the European Food and Veterinary Office, which is based in Meath. Prior to his arrival, and despite its Irish location, the FVO fell foul of Irish farmers over it’s “nothing to see here” attitude to beef standards in Brazil in 2007. The oversight of Brazilian standards could again develop into a battle between the European authorities and Irish farmers in 2019.
In Brussels, Scannell has always proven helpful to Irish delegations.
The other potential candidate for the deputy director post is also Irish, John Bell, currently director of Healthy Planet in DG Research and Innovation.
The Germans have strengthened their grip on European political affairs with Ursula Von der Leyan (pictured) elected as the new president of the European Commission.
She will be tough on climate issues – proposing that a climate target be turned into law – and soft on Brexit – saying she is willing to consider an extension to the withdrawal agreement.
Either way, as she’s been German minister of defence since 2013, The Dealer reckons there will be little wiggle room for political tomfoolery.
Kildareman Brian Rushe has secured the nomination from his home county for the position of IFA deputy president, I’m told. No surprise there, but he will need nominations from five more counties to become a candidate.
Connacht IFA chair Padraic Joyce told the Mayo county executive he would be running for deputy president. Environment chair Thomas Cooney was the first man to announce he was running, but that is now up in the air.
Cooney has said he would withdraw his candidacy for deputy president if IFA rural development chair Joe Brady decides to run for president, avoiding a split in the vote. On Tuesday, Harold Kingston was endorsed by Cork Central for the post of Munster regional chair.
I see the organisers of Puck Fair have struck on a novel way to meet the escalating cost of insurance.
The three-day traditional street fair due to take place on 10-12 August in Killorglin, Co Kerry, was facing soaring insurance prices and overall running costs. Now, it is asking the public to help secure the future of the decades-old event by donating to a GoFundMe campaign, www.gofundme.com/puck-fair-2019.
Declan Falvey, chair of the 22-strong organising committee, said the fair needed a plan B to tackle rising costs and the GoFundMe campaign seemed like a “no-brainer”.
Meanwhile, the cattle fair is moving to Monday, 12 August, because of an old charter that dictates that when the 11 August falls on a Sunday, the cattle fair will instead be held on the following day.
The Dealer notes that Carbery Group has appointed TJ Sullivan as their new chair. Currently chair of Drinagh co-op, the dairy farmer hails from the Beara Peninsula in west Cork and has been on the Drinagh board since 2014. The new vice-chair is Paddy Ryan, who is currently chair of Lisavaird co-op.
Sullivan will have the honour of being the big cheese who opens the Brexit proof Carbery mozzarella plant.
I see the visit to Dublin of deputy director general of European Commission’s trade department Sandra Gallina on Wednesday of last week was called off. I wonder whether it had anything to do with there being a couple of thousand farmers protesting about Mercosur, beef prices and Brexit compensation? I hear the visit will take place on another date, preferably one that does not clash with a protest.
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