Fionnán Sheahan: Making Child Benefit untouchable hasn't benefited children in the best way possible
The last time a reform of Child Benefit was seriously looked at, the proposals were so unpalatable that they were buried. An examination of Child Benefit was demanded as part of the IMF-EU bailout. After all, it is a universal payment to all families, regardless of income. Millionaires continued to be paid almost €1,700 a year by the State for each child – the same as those on low incomes.
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The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Higher food prices and additional support payments increase family farm incomes by 87%
HIGHER FOOD PRICES, an easing in input costs and additional support payments have contributed to increasing family farm incomes in Ireland by 87%. Economists at Teagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority – today published a new report on family farm income last year and it shows a 'substantial recovery' following an 'extremely difficult' 2023. It said a combination of higher food prices, some easing in input costs and additional support payments under the new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) has driven this increase which has seen the average family farm income rise by 87% to just under €36,000. CAP payments in Ireland are focused on improving the environment and helping to prevent climate change. Teagasc found there were 'particularly strong improvements' for dairy, tillage and sheep farms but added that this should be viewed in the context of 'particularly low-income figures in 2023'. Meanwhile, Teagasc found that 42% of farms were categorised as economically viable last year, which was one of the highest rates it has on record. And while Teagasc notes that higher food prices aided farm incomes last year, this trend looks set to continue this year. Ireland recorded the sharpest rate of increase in agricultural produce prices in the EU in the first quarter of this year, the bloc's statistical agency Eurostat said last week. Irish agricultural prices were up an eye-watering 19.3% in the first quarter of 2025 when compared with the same period of 2024. The average increase across the EU was just 2.6%. Dairy farms Dairy farm incomes rose by 113% last year when compared to 2023, to an average of €108,200. While the average dairy farm income was €157,591 in 2022, this dropped sharply to €50,677 in 2023. Teagasc said the recovery seen last year was driven by 'much improved' milk prices and favourable grazing conditions from mid-year onwards, which boosted production later in the year. Input costs, such as feed and fertiliser, also eased when compared to 2023, as did overhead costs. Advertisement However, Teagasc remarked that the 'strength of the income recovery is a reminder that Irish dairy farm incomes are highly sensitive to milk price movements which dairy farmers have no control'. Cattle farms While the average dairy farm had an income of over €108,000 last year, it's a different story for cattle farms. For cattle rearing farms, which typically focus on suckler beef production, there was a 'strong rebound' last year following an 'extremely poor outcome in 2023'. The average income increased by 93% to €13,500, driven by higher cattle prices and lower production costs. Cattle Other farms, including beef finishing and store cattle enterprises, saw their average income increase by 32% last year, to €18,101. This increase was driven by firmer prices for finished animals and lower production costs. Teagasc noted that support payments also remained an important component of income on these farms and that the income increase for this category of farm is lowest relative to other farm types. Sheep Farms The average income on Sheep farms increased by 115% last year to just under €27,796. Once more, an increase in lamb prices as well as a fall in input costs contributed to this increase, in addition to support payments. Tillage Farms Following a year of 'extremely low income' in 2023 where the average farm income was €19,204, tillage farms saw incomes rise last year by 101% to €38,685. Teagasc said this was due to a 'combination of factors', such as a switch towards spring crops after particularly difficult winter planting conditions. These spring crops fared better than winter crops and overall yields were slightly better than in 2023. Favourable weather during the summer period also aided grain quality, and grain prices were up marginally while input costs reduced. Lower fertiliser prices were also of particular benefit, although Teagasc said land rental costs remained high. 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
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Sky Ireland tells court it is not obliged to give end of contract notice
The communications regulator. ComReg, is seeking High Court orders requiring Sky Ireland Ltd to end its practice of automatically renewing customers' contracts without first informing them their contracts are about to end and of alternative tariffs. ComReg claims Sky is in breach of 2022 European Union regulations requiring communications service providers to inform consumers in a prominent and timely manner of the end of the contractual commitment and means by which to terminate the contract. It says Sky is also contravening the regulations by failing to provide consumers with 'best tariff advice' before the contract is automatically prolonged. Sky is the only one of the five big providers refusing to do so, ComReg says. Sky disputes ComReg's interpretation of the relevant legal provisions and says they only apply to contracts with a fixed duration. Its customers' contracts are subscription contracts of indeterminate duration, it says. READ MORE The regulations, Sky argues, are designed to address the potential harm of consumers getting automatically prolonged in the contract for a second term without their knowledge. This harm does not arise in relation to Sky customers as its contracts do not follow this type of model in Ireland, it argues. It also says the ultimate interpretation of the regulations is for the courts to decide. On Monday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey admitted Comreg's proceedings against Sky to the fast track Commercial Court on the application of Eoin McCullough SC, for the regulator, and on consent from Andrew Fitzpatrick SC, for Sky. The case was adjourned to December. In an affidavit seeking entry of the case to the commercial list, Miriam Kilraine, ComReg compliance operations manager, said the purpose of end of contract information and best tariff advice, when a contract is nearing end and about to be 'auto-prolonged', is that customers are afforded an opportunity of making an informed decision to stay with their current provider on the same or different package or to switch to a new provider. This is important particularly as customers may be losing discounts and therefore incurring higher prices and, in the case of Sky customers, this could include bundled TV, broadband and telephone services, she said. As part of its review and enforcement functions, ComReg began an investigation last September and Virgin Media, Eircom, Three and Vodafone all confirmed they are in compliance but Sky said it did not do so. Further investigations into Sky followed and in December Sky said it would not be complying because of its interpretation of the regulations. Ms Kilraine said it is clear there is a fundamental disagreement between the parties regarding the interpretation of the relevant legal provisions in this case. It is ComReg's position that Sky has failed and continues to fail to comply with its obligations under the 2022 regulations, she said. She also said Sky's UK arm, Sky UK Ltd, has taken a different position to its Irish counterpart and provides best tariff information to its customers. Th followed enforcement action against Sky UK by the UK watchdog, Ofcom, in 2021 which concluded in Ofcom's favour last December, Ms Kilraine said.
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
EU finds ‘indications' Israel is breaching trade deal with its actions in Gaza
The European Union says there are ″indications″ that Israel's actions in Gaza are violating human rights obligations in its trade agreement with the EU, according to its findings seen by The Associated Press. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas presented the review to foreign minsters of the 27-member bloc in Brussels on Monday, leading at least one country to openly propose suspending the trade deal. 'There are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Associated Agreement,' according to the review by the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service. A third of Israel's imports come from the EU, valued at about £20 billion annually, while Europe imports less than 1% of its goods from Israel, according to the EU Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security. Suspending trade ties would require a unanimous decision, which is likely impossible to obtain from countries like Austria, Germany and Hungary that tend to back Israel. Other actions — such as ending visa-free travel to Europe for Israelis, sanctioning Israeli settlers in the West Bank or halting academic partnerships — could be pushed if a 'qualified majority' — 15 of the 27 nations representing at least 65% of the population of the EU — agree. Countries like the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain have been vocal in their support for the Palestinians in Gaza as Israel battles Hamas. 'When all the focus is on Iran and the escalation regarding Iran, we should not forget about Gaza,' said Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, who led the charge for the review. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostages. About 56,000 Palestinians have since been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and little relatively aid has entered since Israel ended the latest ceasefire in March. Outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza has grown in Europe as images of suffering Palestinians have driven protests in London, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid and Amsterdam. Spain has cancelled arms deals with Israel and called for an arms embargo. Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno on Monday called for suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement. 'The time for words and declarations is behind. We had enough time,' he told the meeting. 'And at the same time, Palestinians in Gaza have no more time to lose. Every day, babies, women, men are being killed. This is the time for action.' Mr Manuel Albares also called for an embargo on EU countries selling weapons to Israel and for the widening of individual sanctions on anyone undermining the proposed two-state solution. 'Europe must show courage,' he told journalists.
