the Farming Week Farm Profits in 2025 Gaec 2 Latest Planning Permission Shake Up
What the sharp decline in the national herd really means;
Brighter days ahead - will farm profits rise in 2025?
Could farmers get higher CAP payments?
Concerns raised over GAEC 2 appeal criteria
Planning shake-up - what it could mean for rural Ireland?
New electricity legislation - what landowners need to know;
Bald but bold – the little calf winning hearts
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Irish Examiner
25 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Government has spent €640k on food and alcohol for dignitaries over past 10 years
Almost €640,000 has been spent on catering and hospitality at diplomatic receptions in Iveagh House over the last decade, new figures show. The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it has spent a total of €638,333 on catering services at its main location in Dublin, Iveagh House. Within this, the department has spent €52,940 on alcohol for its reception events during the same period. This refers to the restocking of its house wine, kept in storage on site, and does not include other costs of alcohol if provided at receptions. The costs span between 2014 and 2024. Catering costs were at their highest in 2019, with the department spending €99,753 on events at Iveagh House. Of that, €11,714 was spent on restocking its house wines. The lowest spends were seen in 2021, where just €1,505 was spent on catering. This is likely due to covid-19 restrictions preventing significant gatherings. For three years — 2020, 2021 and 2022 — no funds were spent on restocking house wines by the department. Last year, the department spent €52,753 on catering for events, of which €2,845 was spent on restocking house wines. The figures were provided to Labour TD Conor Sheehan, through a parliamentary question. Events hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, whether at Iveagh House or at embassies abroad, typically are accompanied by catering services, with plenty of food and drink for diplomats or guests. At events abroad, guests at Irish embassies can expect to be served with wines and beer, with Guinness typically on offer. Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris said such hospitality events were a 'standard feature of international diplomatic practice and take place in a range of formats that vary in size and scope'. Mr Harris said hospitality events formed 'part of the overall strategy by which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeks to engage with Ireland's international partners'. He added they 'advance Ireland's economic, political, foreign policy and other key national interests, promote Irish culture and increase Ireland's international influence generally'. 'Events hosted by the department at Iveagh House include receptions but also extend to business breakfasts, working lunches and official dinners for visiting high-level foreign dignitaries and/or senior officials, as well as conferences, seminars and networking opportunities,' Mr Harris said, in his response to Mr Sheehan. They seek to showcase the quality and variety of Irish produce wherever possible but are always delivered with value for the Irish taxpayer strongly in mind. Mr Sheehan said he did not dispute the need to use hospitality as part of representing Ireland on the world stage, but questioned the high spend on alcohol. 'We have to ask ourselves: is it really appropriate for alcohol to feature so heavily in that image?' Mr Sheehan said. 'Spending over €50,000 of taxpayers' money on alcohol sends the wrong message. At a time when Ireland is rightly promoting public health, responsible consumption, and a more inclusive image abroad, shouldn't we be reflecting those values in our diplomatic practices. 'This isn't about eliminating hospitality or penny-pinching — it's about asking whether a well-stocked drinks cabinet should still be a fixture of modern diplomacy.'
Irish Independent
28 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Almost 9,000 people lost their jobs in Ireland last month as uncertainty over tariffs grows
There were 143,100 people registered unemployed last month, compared with 134,500 in June. The seasonally adjusted rate of 4.9pc in July was up from 4.6pc in June, and on an annual basis it was up from the revised rate of 4.5pc in July 2024. There was a particularly noticeable uptick in joblessness numbers within the 15 to 24-year-old age cohort, with the youth unemployment rate of 12.2pc in July up from the 11.3pc recorded in June. Andrew Webb, chief economist at Grant Thornton Ireland, said the rise in the headline rate to 4.9pc is a warning light on the economic dashboard. 'After three months of rate stability, this sharp increase, especially the spike in youth unemployment to 12.2pc, suggests that business confidence may be softening,' he said. 'Rising global uncertainty and the growing risk of tariffs are making firms more cautious. That hesitation is now showing up in the jobs data. Ireland's labour market remains strong by historical standards, but policymakers should take this signal seriously. If ignored, today's flicker could become a more persistent fault.' Tariffs of between 10pc and 50pc were imposed by the US today on dozens of countries, while the White House and European Commission continued negotiations on a joint statement intended to add detail to their headline trade deal. The document will not be legally binding. As US president Donald Trump threatened a 100pc tariff on computer chips, the commission insisted that a 15pc rate will still apply to EU exports. 'We have a commitment for a 15pc across-the-board tariff ceiling,' said commission spokesman Olof Gill. 'That captures all products.' Talks about exempting certain goods are continuing, according to Mr Gill, but European wine and spirits will not escape the 15pc tariff that hits most imports from the EU to America from tomorrow. ADVERTISEMENT With the US accounting for about one third of all Irish exports, the impact of a long-term 15pc tariff is likely to be substantial, particularly as it includes pharma. The drag on economic growth is likely to suppress inflation, as was seen in the decrease to 1.7pc last month, mainly caused by lower prices for clothes. The continuing growth in wages could put upward pressure on prices, however. The Central Bank of Ireland has forecast that Compensation Per Employee will rise by 3.8pc on average from 2025 to 2027. In its most recent Quarterly Bulletin, the bank also pointed out that firms could react to the uncertainty surrounding tariffs by adjusting working hours rather than laying off staff. Average hours worked already remain below pre-pandemic levels across many sectors. The hiring platform Indeed said job postings on its Irish website increased slightly to 11pc in July, but are still down from the 19pc seen at the start of the year. 'This confirms a gradual and ongoing, but by no means worrying, cooling of the labour market,' said Jack Kennedy, a senior economist with Indeed. 'Even though the level of Irish job postings has reduced, the unemployment rate has remained below 5pc with employers still struggling to recruit staff in certain categories. This month marks the 42nd month in a row that the unemployment rate has been below 5pc.'
Agriland
39 minutes ago
- Agriland
Explore top sheep and cattle handling systems with Clipex at Tullamore
This year, Clipex Fencing & Stockyards Ireland returns to the Tullamore Show with a focused range of livestock handling and fencing solutions, built for practical, everyday use on Irish farms. Visit our stand to explore key equipment for cattle, sheep and fencing and speak with our team about reliable, on-farm options to suit your needs. At our stand, visitors will be able to view and discuss a wide range of systems, including cattle and sheep handling solutions, fencing equipment, and supporting components. We will present two of our manual cattle crushes – the HDX 900 and HDX 1100 – designed for ease of use and long service life. These models are suitable for everyday cattle work and are compatible with a range of yard configurations. Alongside the crushes, we'll also display air-operated headbails and air slide gates, which are available with other models for farmers looking to introduce pneumatic handling options. Completing the setup will be our Yardsman and Studman panels and gates, which offer reliable strength and flexibility for building custom cattle yards suited to different herd sizes and layouts. For sheep producers, we will exhibit our Clipex Sheep Handler, designed to reduce manual handling while supporting efficient processing. Also on display will be sheep panels and gates, and both the 3-Way Draft and V-Draft systems - ideal for fast and accurate sorting. Fencing will also be a key focus at our stand. We will showcase a selection of Clipex fence posts, including 11 and 14 clip models, designed for efficient wire placement and strong ground holding. We will also have wire, insulators, and the Prop Pin Plate system available at Clipex Stand D109-D114. In addition, we will demonstrate the use of drive tubes and a petrol post driver – widely used by Irish farmers for quicker and easier fence installation. We invite all visitors to stop by our Stand D109-D114 at the Tullamore Show to explore the latest Clipex range and discuss how our equipment can improve your farming solutions.
