Canadian state wholesaler wants Irish whiskey to replace US spirits in 25,000 outlets, agriculture minister says
Martin Heydon exploring potential deal in massive boost to the sector
Martin Heydon has spoken to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Photo: Frank McGrath
Fearghal O'Connor Today at 06:30
Ireland's embattled whiskey sector could fill the gap left on Canadian liquor shelves following the removal of US drinks products in reaction to Donald Trump's tariffs against America's northern neighbour, a key government-owned alcohol distributor has told the Irish Government.
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RTÉ News
9 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Behind the Story: Why Irish seas 'urgently' need more legal protection
Ireland needs its own legislation to safeguard marine protected areas, an expert has warned. Marine biologist Rebecca Hunter told Behind the Story that the damage to the seas around Ireland is "quite alarming". "This year alone there are records of Atlantic Salmon that has declined by 90% since the 1970s," she said. "So, in the past 50, 60 years – not even a human lifetime – 90% of Irish Salmon have been lost. "The European Eel, which would return to Irish rivers, is down 97%." Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are areas that are protected and managed over the long term, with a primary objective of conserving habitats and/or species. The Government approved the general scheme of a Marine Protected Areas Bill in December 2022. However, it was reported in June that the coalition could drop the law in favour of folding it into the offshore wind consenting scheme. "An exercise is being undertaken to explore how the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 could be revised as an alternative approach, so that the overarching objectives of MPA Bill might be met through amendment of that act," Minister for Housing James Browne has said. Ms Hunter said legislation needs to give Ireland the power to designate marine protected areas for species and habitats of national importance. "Ireland already has some marine protected areas that come from the EU Habitats Directive," she said. "I think currently something like 8.3% of Irish seas are protected through those designations." However, Ms Hunter said there are two issues with relying on EU legislation alone. "The EU Habitats Directive never made a requirement for any management measures to be put in place when those sites were designated," she explained. "They often become what's known as paper parks: [so] they exist on paper, but in effect no activities are being stopped, reduced or managed in any way to protect the species. "The EU Habitats Directive covers species and habitats that are important at an EU level; but that misses a large number that are important at an Irish level". Ms Hunter said there needs to be standalone legislation on marine protection. "National marine protection would allow Ireland to bring forward a new list of species that require protection in Irish waters and it must include the provision that management measures are in place," she said. "Ireland is signed up to the target of achieving at least 20% protection by 2030 – at the minute it's about 8.3%. "Ireland is one of the countries furthest behind in its level of protection". Ms Hunter said the seas need their own piece of legislation for protection, rather than "be shoehorned into a piece of legislation that is designed to manage human activities". Marine and coastal habitats Ms Hunter said recent reports suggest that areas are at risk. "The latest reports on the condition of marine and coastal habitats within some of Ireland's marine protected areas are showing that a huge number of these are in an unfavourable status," she said. "There's a whale-watching company in Cork that closed recently because there are no longer the whales to keep that business going". Ms Hunter said some marine species are closer to extinction than people may realise. "There are animals in Irish seas which are closer to extinction than many of the big species we may think of when we hear that word [such as] snow leopards, giant pandas," she said. "There are animals like the flapper skate, the angel shark – they are ranked as being closer to extinction than any of those other species." Ms Hunter said the decline is due to a number of factors including climate breakdown, water quality issues and habitat loss. 'Our sense of identity' Ms Hunter explained her love for the sea came from her childhood. "It's like another world out there," she said. "I grew up, spending a lot of time in Donegal, around Lough Swilly. "There's so much different marine life that Ireland has - the size of Ireland's sea is about seven-times larger than the size of the island itself". Ms Hunter said Irish waters contain "huge numbers of sea birds and coastal animals" as well as 26 different types of whales and dolphins. "Even more recently discovered animals that were thought to be lost: there are angel sharks in Tralee Bay and there's even coral reefs". Ms Hunter said such creatures are "deeply bound into our stories and our sense of identity". As part of her research, she spent four months on a vessel in 2009. "It's a wonderful experience, it can be a tough experience," she recalls. "There were a lot of storms; we had to actually rescue a rower trying to make his way over the Atlantic Ocean at one point. "You learned to stick your life jacket under one side of your mattress to sort of push your mattress up against the wall. "That held you in in your bed, so that the storms didn't chuck you out of your bed halfway through the night".
The Journal
27 minutes ago
- The Journal
Being a first-time TD: Will I still be doing this at 80? I don't know but I love it for now.
YESTERDAY, FIANNA FÁIL'S Erin McGreehan told us about her experience of being a TD, today we hear from Fine Gael's James Geoghegan. The Dublin Bay South TD was first elected as a councillor in 2019 and before this worked for Renua founder Lucinda Creighton while she was a TD up to 2016. Elected to the Dáil for the first time in last year's general election, Geoghegan tells us that despite his prior experience, the role of a TD is, in some ways, pretty different to what he thought it would be. Is life as a TD what you expected? 'Being a councillor, you would talk to everybody, of every political stripe. I didn't know if the Oireachtas would be like that too, but for the most part, it is. There's a level of respect that's there [across party lines] that would have surprised me,' Geoghegan said. 'The system forces you to work together. It may sound trite, but there's an Irish sense of community there that maybe isn't in other political systems. I think it's important that we hold on to that.' He added: 'Maybe it's important that we do talk that up a little bit. There's a lot of talk about how divisive politics is, but maybe it's important that those who are in politics talk about what it's like behind the scenes.' Pit and peak What has been his highlight of the Dáil term? Geoghegan's highlight so far has been getting a piece of private members' legislation, on compulsory purchase orders, past first stage in the Dáil. The law would consolidate existing CPO laws and reform how they work. Advertisement As Geoghegan describes it, it would also seek to offer 'more of a carrot than a stick' approach by giving the landowner the payment for the property sooner in the process. What's been the low point? 'The lowlights are when you're dealing with [constituents'] queries that no matter how much effort you make, you're simply not going to resolve,' Geoghegan said. 'I've dealt with queries from a child who is autistic and has been kicked out of a creche because they don't have the necessary supports for that child. That's clearly wrong. 'Maybe that mother or father are actually going to have to go to the courts to deal with something like that. That's unbelievably upsetting and frustrating, that despite your efforts, you can't solve it.' Geoghegan also pointed to constituents who come to him over issues with housing or access to health services. 'I'm also conscious that so often the TD's office is the last port of call for people. They've exhausted every avenue, and in some cases, it might be people who just have no other place to go. 'So trying to manage that. And look, you get a lot of wins too, but trying to manage the disappointments, even for the staff who are working for you, that's definitely challenging. 'So I think they're the lowlights. There's no question about it.' Any surprises about being a TD? 'I'd probably go back to the same thing I said at the beginning. It does surprise me how well people of different political parties can actually work together,' Geoghegan said. 'So I'm on the all-party, Oireachtas Committee for Autism…We meet practically once every month, if not more. Related Reads Being a first-time TD: 'The hours are mad, if I finish at 9.30pm it feels like a half day' Being a first-time TD: 'People are much nicer in the Dáil bar than they are in the chamber' 'There's no cameras. It's not in a public committee room. 'We bring in ministers, the key stakeholders, and on such a difficult issue, in terms of assessment of needs, school places, all the kind of stuff, whether you are Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Labour, SocDems, People Before Profit, most of those parties are represented in that room at those meetings, and just try to actually deal with the issues in front of them. 'And I think if you talk to any of those people involved in the committee, they feel like in many ways, that's some of the most valued work that they do. Perhaps more than the Punch and Judy stuff that happens in the set pieces, like Leaders' Questions.' Final musings 'One of the most important things you can do in this job, and it sounds so cliché, is recognise that you are new. 'You're brand new to this chamber and there's a lot of people in here that have lots of experience, and by listening, observing, watching, it can really make a difference to the work that you're actually doing for the people who are calling your office. 'To my mind, that is the way you can be the most effective TD for the constituency you represent by building networks, building relationships, so that when a problem happens and they call you, you actually have some kind of a way to try and fix it. 'That's my overall conclusion in the first term, come back to me in a few more,' Geoghegan said. Does he see being a TD as a career for life? 'I don't know yet, is the truth. I don't imagine I'm going to be here when I'm 80, and I'm 40 now. I think you should do it as long as you still have the love for it. 'As long as you still love knocking on doors, listening to people's problems, solving people's problems, engaging with the local football club, the GAA club, the rugby club, the community. 'If you still love doing all of those things, then keep putting your hand up and keep running,' Geoghegan said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Agriland
an hour ago
- Agriland
Are peas worth a look within a tillage rotation?
Given the growing demand for plant proteins, Teagasc is re-evaluating the potential roles for peas on Irish tillage farms. And one way of making this a reality is by inter-cropping the legume with a very close botanical relative: faba beans. There are myriad reasons why Irish tillage farmers should consider growing peas at the present time. First of all, the demand for home-produced native protein sources for the animal feed sector continues to grow. In addition, there is a rising demand for plant-based proteins for the food sector like pea flour and protein isolate. The environmental benefits of growing peas includes improved soil health, biodiversity, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, support is available from the EU Farm to Fork strategy, which prioritises local protein production to reduce reliance on imports. The Irish climate is well suited to pea production, with yields here amongst the highest in Europe. But despite this, only about 650ha of peas are grown here each year - a fraction of what could be grown. A key advantage of including the crop in an Irish arable rotation is their suitability for lighter soils, whereas faba beans can struggle, particularly in dry years. Additionally, peas benefit from a later sowing date in the spring and an earlier harvest than faba beans. But for Irish farmers in Ireland to embrace the crop again, the biggest challenge of lodging must be addressed. Peas are very prone to lodging, where plants fall over before harvest. This leads to significant yield loss and difficulties with combining. Teagasc researchers at Oak Park have tackled the problem by inter-cropping them with faba beans. It is a simple idea where the stronger stems of faba beans support the lodging-prone pea plants, with the beans acting as a scaffold. Commercial field trials looking at the feasibility of intercropping of the two crops have identified a number of clear trends and principles. Faba beans help support the pea canopy, resulting in taller, more upright pea plants. Intercropping delayed maturity slightly, giving farmers more flexibility at harvest without compromising yield. Across trials, there was no significant yield loss from intercropping compared to sole pea crops. Faba beans with strong stems and early maturity (e.g., Louhi) are the most effective partners for peas. And, finally, results to date suggest that intercropping peas with beans does not eliminate the lodging risk and the crop will eventually lodge. But it can delay lodging and reduce risk of crop deterioration.
