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Opposition parties have reacted strongly to Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan’s 2011 Budget stating it does not provide sufficient stimulus measures for the economy and middle and lower income earners are being asked to shoulder the gross incompetence of the present government.
 Deputy Noel Coonan TD Fine Gael’s finance spokesman Michael Noonan said it was the budget of a “puppet government” obeying their new masters the IMF and ECB, while allowing the State to draw down bailout funds.
Speaking following the publication of Budget 2011, Deputy Noel Coonan said Minister Brian Lenihan may have exempted old age pensioners from draconian cutbacks but carers, widowers, people with disabilities and the blind will all suffer from unfair cuts and will be paying for the “sins of the banks.”
Deputy Coonan stated: “Budget 2011 lacks imagination and any incentive for job creation. It does not inspire confidence and symbolises an old tired Government that should resign and vanish. How any Independent Deputy could support this Government bearing in mind what it has done to our people, beggars belief; especially on the pretence that old people are being looked after while carers, widowers, people with disabilities and the blind are made pay for the sins of the bank. Carers provide an invaluable service, saving the country millions, but these giving people are being penalized instead of rewarded and that is beyond grasp.
It’s unbelievable that any public representative could sell out our country for private benefits, while the Minister imposes a 4% reduction in most social welfare payments, resulting in a reduction of €8 to carers and those who are blind. Fine Gael is totally opposed to cutting payments to the most vulnerable.”
Speaking on agriculture the Deputy stated:
“Agriculture is the one industry which can save us and it has been ignored and was not worthy of even a mention in the Budget. Those on negative equity were also ignored. It’s those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable who will shoulder the majority of the burden yet again.”
Social groups are today digesting the details of Budget 2011. Barnardos says there is despair in many Irish households as a result of the cuts in child benefit.
The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed says Ireland is a much colder place for those out of work, while Respond, the housing association, says cuts to social welfare and child benefit will inflict further hardship on families.
Following an application in October last, planning approval has now been granted for a bio-diesel plant near Thurles.
G.R.O. Oil Ltd have been granted approval by North Tipperary Co. Council to construct a bio-diesel production facility at Manselstown, Ballyduff, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Included in the permission is leave to construct twelve bunded storage tanks, a lab, a process building, an administration building and other ancillary buildings. The proposed plant must operate with an integrated pollution control licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2008 Centenary Thurles Co-Op finalised contracts with the Cork company, for the sale of this site near Thurles, which had planning permission for this 40,000 tonne processing plant.
What Are The Advantages of Bio-diesel
Locally grown seed is a strengthening market especially where imported oils such as palm oil are seen as environmentally damaging due to rain forest clearance especially in Asian countries. It was then felt that offering the opportunity to grow alternative crops to farmers here in Tipperary, would greatly enhance the sustainability of the region and provide a substitute crop for many tillage growers following the decline of the sugar beet industry.
G.R.O. Oil Ltd. is a Cork based company, established in 2004, manufacturing bio-diesel from rapeseed, which is ready for use in any diesel engine without any modifications required. Bio-diesel is renewable and it has a closed loop cycle, with only the CO2 absorbed by the growing plant being emitted from the engine during the combustion cycle. It is a clean burning renewable fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fats or recycled cooking oil. It can be used in compression ignition (diesel) engines with no modifications. Bio-diesel is simple to use, biodegradable, non-toxic and free from sulphur and aromatics.
In February 2007, Minister Noel Dempsey announced that Ireland would move to a biofuels obligation in 2009, where fuel suppliers would be required to ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. In announcing the obligation, the Minister set targets of 5.75% market penetration by 2010 and 10% by 2020.
Goldrop from G.R.O. Oil is manufactured to EN14214 which is the recognized European standard for cleanliness, purity and combustion quality.
John and Nora Egan are the proud owners of one of Ireland’s real hidden treasures, that is Inch House, Nenagh Rd, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, now their home since 1985.
When the family bought the house, together with its surrounding rolling farmland, they really had no idea as to the real treasure that lay around this, then, old neglected Georgian Mansion.
John, a modern and progressive farmer and Nora a fully qualified Nurse, together with their eight children, began the painstaking work of restoration, slowly returning this building to its original and magnificent attractive state.
Their initial dreams and planning for Inch House would eventually came into full fruition four years later, in 1989 when they opened the doors of their dream home to their first paying guests. They have now travelled a long way along that painstaking journey of restoration, however John and Nora make no secret of the fact that they still have lots left to accomplish for the next generation to be getting on with and this house will continue to remains a ‘Labour of Love’ while it remain in the ownership of the Egan family.
Their youngest son, Joseph, has inherited his love of farming from his father John and now works closely along side him on a full-time basis. Nora’s second oldest daughter Mairin is always to be found on duty daily at the front of house, while the other siblings continue to come and go, but are always enthusiastic to assist if and whenever needed.
As stated, Inch House is surrounded by a working 250 acre farm, which as well as producing it’s own organic vegetables and assorted herbs, also grows each year a large quantity of oats, barley and wheat which is harvested in late August and early September. John and his son Joseph work hard right the way through the year to store, dry and roll the grain for re-sale to local farmers throughout the winter and spring of the year.
Inch House Is Truly A Family Affair Gladly Shared With Their Visiting Public.
With the later introduction of a restaurant, which opened its doors in 1994, there has been enormous family team support in building and achieving a solid reputation not just amongst their local customers, but from surrounding counties and from abroad. This reputation for quality has now become a by-word amongst its numerous visiting clientele.
Nora Egan makes no secret of what is the ‘Inch House success story’ to those who ask. She is quick to state:
“In our restaurant we use only locally sourced produce together with only the highest quality ingredients direct from our own farm and the heart land of the Golden Vale, latter the richest producing farmland in Europe. Our restaurant and kitchen have developed menus that can appeal to every palate. Employees in the kitchens work as a team, to build menus to suit each of our customer’s needs and in doing so, ensure and maintain only the highest standards in that task. The restaurant team, work in harmony with the kitchen in serving top quality meals both in a friendly and also in a professional manner.”
If you have eaten her sirloin or fillet steak, her Inch House Traditional Black Pudding, or tasted her secret recipes like her range of chutney dressings and sauces or her special miniature scones, then you know that Nora is a modern day Isabella Mary Beeton, producing something really special and as good food goes is just not obtainable elsewhere.
To book your special evening, please do contact Mairin or Nora at Inch House. They will be only too pleased to work with you to prepare a feast guaranteed to please and to be enjoyed by all, or to coordinate with that special ‘short break’ away from the pressures, the hustle and bustle, that is our daily lives.
Here in this peaceful unique hideaway, that is Inch House, you can quickly regain lost energies, charge batteries and become totally relaxed and refreshed.
 Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority are inviting all members of the farming community to attend an important Cross Compliance event.
Cross Compliance is a key component of the Single Farm Payment (SFP) and the decoupling of subsidies from production. Cross compliance is the principle that farm subsidy payments are linked to compliance with basic standards and if a farmer is applying for SFP, then cross compliance applies to every hectare of farm-able land that the farmer occupies.
 Directions to Gurteen Agri College Farmers must comply with all legislation affecting their businesses. The significance of cross-compliance is that farmers’ receipt of direct aids depends on their doing so. Cross-compliance is not a new concept, but it has been voluntary for Member States until now and applied only to environmental standards.
Cross Compliance is now compulsory. All farmers receiving direct payments, even when they are not yet part of the SPS, will be subject to Cross Compliance and it has been extended beyond compliance with environmental rules, to include new requirements regarding public, animal and plant health, animal welfare, and the maintenance of all agricultural land, in good agricultural and environmental condition.
This important Cross Compliance Event will be held on Tuesday next November 23rd, starting at 10.30 am in Gurteen Agricultural College.
Discussion and Practical Events will provide guidance to the farming community on all aspects of Cross Compliance particularly under the following headings:-
- Preparing Farmers for Cross Compliance On-Farm Inspections.
- Avoiding Unnecessary Penalties.
- Complying with On-Going EU Farm Legislation.
All are welcome to attend this very important event.
Farmers like all business people are concerned about the future, this was demonstrated by the very large attendance of farm families at the Teagasc Seminar entitled ‘Options for Farm Families‘ held in the Anner Hotel, Thurles last week.
The seminar acknowledged that farm families are confronted with considerable challenges just now. To prosper and develop in the coming decade, farm families need to consider all opportunities to include maximising farm efficiency and viability to achieve the highest possible returns and the adoption of new enterprises on the farm to generate extra income.
 Front row: M. Henegan, L. Kenny. - Back row: M. Murray, J. Kenny, Dr C. O'Donoghue, D. Meredith, D. Mullane Teagasc. Bill Condon, Teagasc adviser outlined the position as regards agriculture in Tipperary and gave his first hand experiences of key decisions taken by farmers in the county in recent years. He emphasised the key areas within the farm to concentrate on before considering other options. Donal Mullane Teagasc Area Manager encouraged farmers to avail of the advice, training and technical support for farm families on offer from the Teagasc team of advisers He drew attention to the opportunities as regards funding and advice from the Local Development Companies (LEADER), who presented at the seminar, and the County Enterprise Boards, VEC, FAS and Citizen Information who had information stands at the seminar for the purpose of creating linkage and providing information for farm families.
Dr.Cathal O Donoghue, and Teagasc, Head Rural Economy, Research and Development and Teagasc Economists David Meredith had some good news for farmers and stated that forecasts for farming look positive for 2011, with returns from the three main farm enterprises due to show improvement. The other positive coming from the seminar was that farmers have all the qualities to develop successful businesses; they are familiar with regulation, administration, they plan strategically, have valuable assets, relatively low borrowings and are adaptable. It was emphasised that Training and up-skilling are essential for future progress.
The above was confirmed in the presentation by John Kenny, a Tipperary Farmer. He stated “the importance of exploring all resources, to generate enough income and ensure a future for a successor on their farm, was the basis for their enterprise development.” The Kenny family own Fairymount Farm, near Roscrea, and as well as operating a viable farm they have a number of other very successful enterprises which includes Forestry, Rural Tourism, Equestrian and a Picture Framing business.
Maria Heneghan Options Co-ordinator and Rural Tourism Specialist stated that the Option Programme in Teagasc is about helping farmers to looking at the total farm family unit, the farm and its viability and efficiency, the skills within the family and the opportunities to expand and take on other enterprises. She drew attention to the newly designed Teagasc Farm Household Ready Reckoner, the purpose of which is to give farm families a pin- picture of financial situation in the farm household. This can form the basis for further discussion with the Teagasc advisor leading to an Options Plan if that is what the family require. It is important to have all the figures, to hand, when filling in the figures. If one wants to keep the information, it must be copied to a word document otherwise it disappears.
The Ready Reckoner can be found on the Teagasc web-site by clicking here. Farmers showed a lot of interest in this Ready Reckoner demonstration at this seminar.
Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc attended the seminar and urged farmers to take time out with their families and engage with the supports available to draw up a medium term plan which will best fit their circumstances.
The purpose of this very informative evening was to create awarenees of the supporting agenicies in the county and to create for farmers an opportunity to meet the personnel involved.
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