Connacht Tribune
Guarded welcome for agri plans in Govt. programme
FRANCIS FARRAGHER looks at different aspects of what’s proposed for agriculture in the FF, FG and Green Party Programme for Government.
WEST of Ireland farm leaders have given a guarded welcome to the agri-rural section of the Programme for Government agreed this week by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.
The retention of the Nitrates Derogation; no restrictions on live exports; and a new REPS style environmental scheme have been welcomed by the IFA.
However, farm leaders have cautioned that the implementation of the programme for the agri-rural sector will be monitored closely to ensure that pledges made are followed through.
Galway IFA Chairperson, Pat Murphy, told the Farming Tribune that the new environmental scheme should be very good news for the West of Ireland on the presumtion that it would be low on red-tape while at the same time delivering a meaningful financial reward.
“We all know that the environment and environmental issues are the future and farmers are more than willing to play their part in this whole process.
“Farmers are enthusiastic about making positive contributions on environmental matters but the paperwork must be kept to a minimum while the financial compensation must be realistic in terms of making their enterprises viable,” said Pat Murphy.
He also said that the commitment to set up an independent appeals procedure for farmers who had faced penalties under the various schemes was to be welcomed. “The current appeals system is totally unfair and had to change,” said Pat Murphy.
He also said that there was a sense of relief that there was nothing in the Programme for Government as regards getting rid of the Nitrates Derogation and the live export of Irish cattle.
“The Nitrates Derogation is an essential for dairy farmers. If it was got rid of, it would have implications in terms of dairy farmers having to acquire more land to supply their feed needs, making land more expensive either to buy or rent,” said Pat Murphy.
He said that the IFA had lobbied intensively on issues like the environmental scheme, the Nitrates Directive and live exports over recent weeks, adding that their work had ‘paid off’.
“The push will be continuing to deliver a better Sheep Welfare and Suckler Cow scheme. We are still seeking a payment of €300 per suckler cow and €30 per ewe from the new Government.
“Suckler cow farmers along the Western Seaboard counties are the basis of the Irish beef industry producing the quality cattle that backbone the whole industry.
“What seems to have emerged from the Programme for Government is a first step along the way in what we are trying to achieve. The pledges are there but now, over the coming months, it’s action we need,” said Pat Murphy.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
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Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
