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 European Union negotiators agreed today to dismantle the bloc’s system of sugar production quotas, same to come into effect from October 2017.
This deal to end sugar quotas from 2017 will be subject first to final approval from EU governments and the European Parliament and is seen as part of wider reforms within the EU’s common agricultural policy.
This 45 year old system of national production quotas and minimum sugar beet prices has been blamed for creating artificial shortages of the sweetener in Europe and also for limiting EU exports, because of world trade rules on unfair subsidies.
The return of the sugar industry to Ireland if successful would be immediately identified as a real coup by farmers operating in the Tipperary agricultural sector. With a return of the Sugar industry allowed, hundreds of direct jobs could be created via three industries, sugar production and processing, feed production and possibly ethanol production.
While 2017 remains several years down the line, this is just the kind of additional kick-start that the Tipperary economy now needs, but I ask do we have the necessary political clout to deliver any future such project to our county?
One of Ireland’s leading Water Treatment and Pumping Solution providers’ Cantwell Electrical Engineering Ltd.(CEEL) have officially opened their new €1.3 million state-of-the-art business premises.
Situated on its original site at Graigue, Urlingford, Thurles, Co Tipperary, Cantwell Electrical Engineering Ltd is an ISO certified company that specialises in the design and supply of water and waste water treatment systems and pumping solutions.
Less than 1km from the N8 Dublin/Cork Road, this new premises was officially opened by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan, T.D. & truly reflects the standards & services which CEEL offer to their valued customers.
In response to an ever expanding client base, CEEL, in association with their sister company’s Quality Water Systems (QWS) & Cantwell Pumping & Treatment Systems, realised the need to update their premises to include new Offices, Workshops, Staff Training Facilities and a Retail Shop, latter which is open to the public six days a week.
Recent accreditation with ISO Standards in Quality Management, Environmental Management and Occupational Health & Safety, have resulted in increased levels of business and has opened up new avenues for this market-leading provider of Pumping, Control and Water Treatment Systems.
A full catalogue of their trade products, can be obtained by contacting Cantwell Pumping & Treatment Systems sales team on 056-8834198.
 As was expected, Tipperary Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes has this morning been appointed the new Junior Minister to replace the late Shane McEntee in the Department of Agriculture.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny informed his Fine Gael cabinet colleagues of his choice this morning, before informing the entire Cabinet at their weekly meeting. A vacancy had arisen in the Department of Agriculture following the untimely death of Mr Shane McEntee just before Christmas.
Mr Tom Hayes, a beef farmer from Golden, in Co Tipperary, has served as a Senator from 1997 to 2001 and as a Tipperary South TD since his election in a by-election in 2001, will now have special responsibility in the areas of forestry, horticulture, the greyhound industry and food safety.
The popular TD has been the most publicly outspoken public representative from Tipperary, in matters regarding unemployment in the county.
 Tipperary farmers state that they are strongly opposed to any proposals by the National Roads Authority (NRA) to ban the selling of farm produce at the roadside.
These, mostly seasonal, trading stands sell mostly fresh strawberries, apples, jams and new potatoes.
In their latest road strategy, the RSA propose introducing new legislation to totally prohibit what they identify as “High Risk Activities,” on the roadside. This activity includes the selling or marketing of farm produce and localised charitable bucket collections.
The RSA’s latest road safety strategy entitled, ‘Closing the Gap‘ and whose aim is to reduce the number of road deaths in Ireland to 124 each year by 2020, down from 162 fatalities in 2012, is seen as yet another daily attempt by Government to turn this country into a servile Nanny Republic.
Members of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) state that the selling of fresh fruit and vegetables at the roadside was an important income for those farmers involved and same had never, in the past, constituted any safety concern whatsoever with those traders implicated in such activities.
 In a joint public awareness campaign with the Department of the Environment launched this week, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) have highlighted the responsibility of all dog owners to be in full control of their dogs at all times, in order to prevent attacks on sheep flocks and the resulting horrific consequences.
The IFA has also given a guarded welcome to the yesterday’s decision by the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to introduce mandatory micro-chipping of all dogs. The IFA state that this move by the Minister has an important role to play in terms of dog ownership responsibility, but insist that same will only be effective if it is matched by a comprehensive National Central Database.
The association has also called on Simon Coveney to ensure that there will be no increase in costs to current dog owners, inviting the Minister therefore to scrap current dog licensing, when micro-chipping is eventually introduced.
This public awareness campaign to prevent attacks on sheep flocks was timed to coincide with the 2013 lambing season. The IFA’s National Sheep Chairman Mr James Murphy has warned; “Farmers are in the middle of the peak lambing season, when sheep flocks are particularly vulnerable to dog attacks, especially during the night, let it be known therefore your dog, therefore your responsibility.”
In a joint nationwide radio advertising campaign, sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community/Local Government and IFA, there is a very clear and strong message being sent to dog owners regarding their responsibilities, pointing out how dog owners could be held liable, if their dog is involved in an attack on sheep.
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