News Bites - Issue 4

Welcome to the latest edition of News Bites.

EPA Publishes Biodiversity Action Plan

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its Biodiversity Action Plan, to coincide with World Wetlands Day, “For its relatively small size Ireland has a wide diversity of habitats ranging from peatlands to coastal lagoons. These habitats are internationally renowned and support a high level of biodiversity that is increasingly under threat.” [Read more...]

Department Surveys Computer Usage

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, is pleased to announce that a survey of farmers’ computer usage will be conducted in February 2010.  The survey titled “Computer Usage Survey - What can computers do for you?” is being carried out by Dublin City University on behalf of the Committee for the Uptake of IT in Agriculture (CUITA) and forms part of the work of the committee to identify the barriers and obstacles to uptake of Information Technology in agricultural and rural communities. [Read more...]

Current water shortages highlight critical role of biodiversity in provision of adequate, safe supply

The ongoing problem of domestic water shortages in many parts of the country has made people painfully aware of our total dependence on clean water. Cliona O’Brien, Heritage Council Wildlife Officer says that, “it is not just a matter of adequate rainfall and non-leaky pipes. People do not consider how biodiversity is affecting our water provision”. [Read more ...]

Ó Cuív praises the Rural Social Scheme response to weather-related difficulties in rural communities nationwide

Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs expressed his appreciation to all Rural Social Scheme (RSS) participants, their supervisors and the managers of the Local Development Companies for the considerable work they carried out within their rural communities in response to the recent weather related difficulties and for their continued assistance in the areas still affected. [Read more...]

The 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

The 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 163 countries on 25 performance indicators tracked across ten policy categories covering both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy goals. The 2010 EPI ranks Ireland 44th. [Read more...]

Irish Rural Link’s Conference 2010

Irish Rural Link’s Annual Conference 2010 will take place on May 13th and 14th in Killala, Co. Mayo. 2010 is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion and this year’s Conference will be on the theme of rural poverty and disadvantage. [Read more...]

CAP2020

CAP2020 is a web site which “provides a platform to share thoughtful commentary and analysis on the future development of European agriculture and rural development policy” [Read more...]

Getting Kerry up to speed with broadband

In broadband terms, Kerry, like many parts of rural Ireland, has been a slow starter and much of the county is still without what is now considered a vital communications service. But that will soon change according to Damien Gallagher, National Broadband [Read more...]

Wind farms plan will return income to communities

Ennistymon farmer Liam Shannon first came up with the idea of establishing a community-based wind farm in 1995 when he started working for Vestas, one of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of large-scale wind turbines. [Read more...]

Running to Stand Still: Next Generation Broadband in Ireland

“It is far from certain that enough private investment in next generation infrastructure (particularly access infrastructure) will be stimulated, especially in rural areas” [Read more...]

McDonald’s target greener beef burgers with major study of Irish cattle suppliers

One hundred Irish beef farms are to take part in a major study by fast food giant McDonald’s, who are aiming to cut greenhouse gases in beef production. [Read more...]

IFA President meets Tánaiste on retail regulation

The IFA President John Bryan met the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Mary Coughlan T.D. in Dublin to progress IFA proposals for equity in the Food Supply Chain and the introduction of a Statutory Code of Practice & Ombudsman for Supermarkets. [Read more...]

Ballyhoura Development & Broadband in North Cork Area

Ripple Communications Ltd is Ireland’s newest wireless broadband provider and is now working closely with Ballyhoura Development Ltd. to provide high speed quality broadband to rural areas. [Read more]

Westmeath Rural Arts Network News

A series of visual art workshops is being planned for Westmeath as part of the new Westmeath Rural Arts Initiative project.  The first workshop will take place in Ballynacargy. [Read more...]

Should Ireland’s Food Be Irish?

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Food Safety Consultative Council hosted an open meeting to discuss the position for and against the merits of buying Irish food. The open meeting, entitled ‘Should Ireland’s Food be Irish?’ provided an opportunity for a discussion on the benefits and disadvantages to consumers who buy food produced in Ireland and the current legislation in place to regulate food labelling, whilst also giving the general public an opportunity to see the workings of the Food Safety Consultative Council. [Read more...]

England’s New Cutting Edge Experiment For The Farm Of The Future

English Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP) has been awarded over £195,000 from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) under the LandSkills North East initiative to establish a Monitor Farm in Northumberland to explore best farming practice and provide a beacon to other farmers in the region over the next couple of years. [Read more...]

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