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The Journal
a day ago
- Business
- The Journal
'No handouts': Taoiseach rules out supports for businesses impacted by US tariffs
TAOISEACH MICHÉAL MARTIN has ruled out Brexit-style government supports for businesses impacted by Trump's tariffs, arguing that the government cannot take a 'handout approach'. Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, the Taoiseach said 'this is not Brexit' when asked about the possibility of supports being introduced. 'I would caution in terms of just creating funds in themselves. More importantly, we have to take decisions now that would create the opportunity or the landscape for companies to grow and to develop strongly,' the Taoiseach said. He added: 'It has to be a strategic approach, not a handout approach'. Responding to his comments, IBEC boss Danny McCoy said he was 'surprised' by what the Taoiseach had to say. He argued to that there should be supports put in place to help the businesses worst impacted. 'There will be some businesses that will be disproportionately affected by 15% [tariffs]. These will be companies that have very low margins, and depend in the short term on the United States,' McCoy said. He added: 'There will be hard cases, there will be people who lose their jobs with 15% tariffs.' The Taoiseach said the agreement between the EU and US avoided a 'damaging trade war' but added: 'Nobody is welcoming tariffs with open arms.' Advertisement He took the view that the agreement acts as a wider framework for how trade will operate, but said the finer details for each sector will have to be ironed out in the coming days and weeks. 'There is much to be negotiated in the aftermath of this framework agreement, in terms of detailed almost, in some sectors, product-by-product negotiations,' the Taoiseach said. 'It's important to say that Europe never sought tariffs, or never sought to impose tariffs, and fundamentally, we are against tariffs: we believe in an open trading economy,' he added. 'In essence, we have avoided a trade conflict here which would have been ruinous, which would have been very damaging to our economy, and to jobs in particular. 'The challenge now for Europe is to work on its own inefficiencies, to reduce barriers within the single market, to press ahead more ambitiously and more proactively on trade diversification and trade deals with other countries that would facilitate that market diversification that is required.' Budget Asked what impact the tariffs will have on the forthcoming Budget, the Taoiseach said: 'It's difficult at this early stage to calculate the impact of these tariffs in terms of government revenues, or indeed in terms of the prospects for 2026, so we would do further analysis of that.' Last week, the government published its Summer Economic Statement, a document that sets out the spending and tax parameters ahead of the Budget. The document was based on a zero tariff scenario. Following the agreement of the US trade deal yesterday, there have been calls from Opposition TDs for the government to publish an updated Summer Economic Statement which accounts for the 15% tariffs. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said this afternoon that the government would not do so. 'The Department of Finance will publish updated macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts alongside Budget 2026, which will take into account the impact of the updated US-EU tariff arrangements,' he 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
RTÉ News
16-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
'Difficult' to ban services from Occupied Palestinian Territories
The employers group IBEC has warned that it would be "incredibly difficult" for businesses to implement a ban on services coming from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The group's Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence, Fergal O'Brien, told the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade tonight that such services were "incredibly hard" to identify. Asked if he could quantify the value of services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Mr O'Brien said he did not have such data. He said each business would have to conduct a customer by customer analysis to establish the facts, and this would be "extremely difficult." Mr O'Brien said, unlike goods which are labelled, services are part of an integrated complicated trading system and so the likely impact would be that activities would be served by another jurisdiction. He said even if only goods were banned by the proposed legislation, his members would be concerned at the likely international reputational damage which would flow from adopting such a bill. Mr O'Brien indicated that US companies based in Ireland are deeply concerned with anti-boycott legislation in many US states, which were introduced to protect Israel, and the damage this could pose on them. He said an IBEC survey suggested that Ireland's US trading partners view the country as having taken "an isolationist approach" in considering such legislation, and was possibly acting "outside of EU" - even though we're "interlinked with the US more than any EU country." Mr O'Brien said Irish companies are being asked a lot of questions about what Ireland is doing and the sense is that the approach is being viewed as "anti-Israel." He said it appeared that Ireland conducted "minuscule" trade with the Occupied Territories and therefore the financial impact pf a ban on goods would be "minimal." However, he said there could be complications due to Ireland's all-island economy, as well as goods from the Occupied Territories entering the EU.
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- The Citizen
Metro tackles non-compliant Sunnyside buildings and businesses
The metro is calling on property and business owners in Sunnyside to get their houses in order following a recent by-law operation in the CBD. A targeted operation was conducted in Sunnyside on June 20 to address the alarming rise in illegal and overcrowded private accommodation and illegally operated businesses. Stakeholders included the Integrated By-laws Enforcement Committee (IBEC), the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), SAPS, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, private security companies and economic development, health and finance officials. MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka said he witnessed first-hand the blatant disregard for municipal by-laws and the dangerous living conditions imposed on vulnerable residents, including students and young workers. 'During the operation, our teams discovered multiple private flats that had been illegally partitioned, transforming originally approved two-bedroom units into cramped five-bedroom spaces,' Maluleka said. He said law enforcement remains a top priority for the coalition government and that they are committed to rooting out transgressions that threaten public safety and economic development. 'These unauthorised modifications were carried out without the necessary approvals from building control or the fire department, putting occupants at severe risk. Landlords are exploiting the high demand for affordable housing by charging exorbitant rent (between R2 000 and R2 500 per space) while ignoring critical safety regulations,' Maluleka said. The MMC said the structural integrity of these buildings has been severely compromised, describing it as a ticking time bomb for potential disasters, such as fires, building collapses or health hazards. He said in those instances of disaster, the responsibility lies with local government, despite the factors leading to such disasters being preventable. He added that the metro will not compromise the lives of its citizens for financial gain, as he issued a final warning to property owners in Sunnyside, Arcadia and surrounding areas to adhere to the following conditions: – Cease illegal partitioning and revert buildings to their approved structures. – Obtain the necessary permits from building control and the fire department. – Ensure compliance with all municipal by-laws, including occupancy limits and safety standards. 'Failure to adhere to these directives will result in swift legal action, including fines, forced evacuations and the condemnation of non-compliant buildings. Our building control and fire department teams will conduct follow-up inspections in the coming days, and any violations will be met with zero tolerance,' Maluleka said. Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, who was also in attendance at the Sunnyside operation, said it was tiring dealing with the same culprits on previous occasions, referring to store and club owners that refuse to adhere to by-law regulations. 'A few weeks ago, we were here and we closed down all these shops because they are not complying. They opened, we came back, we closed them down, they opened, and now we're back again. Really, it's tiring. These people are something else, the audacity and sheer disrespect for our laws, and we also dropped the ball because they were never supposed to be allowed to reopen,' Moya said. Moya was outside the street that houses the popular nightspot House 22. That club and many other businesses have been served with eviction notices during the operation. Stakeholders also arrested multiple undocumented foreign nationals, closed down a spaza being run by an asylum seeker, and another store selling food and other products without adhering to health regulations. The metro said it recognises the need for affordable housing, but insists that local economic development thrives only when communities are secure and laws are respected. MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, as well as the Chairperson of the Mayoral Bad Buildings Subcommittee, Kholofelo Morodi, said Sunnyside is very, very problematic to the residents and they are taking back the city bit by bit. Morodi and the committee met with the Embassy of China alongside major Chinese state-owned enterprises earlier this month to discuss land-use models that could be used in high-density areas. 'Tshwane's inner city, particularly the CBD, remains a focal point of the city's urban renewal strategy. The city is committed to reversing the decline of the CBD and repositioning it as a functional, clean and safe environment that attracts investment and restores public confidence. 'The city is committed to receiving abandoned buildings, enforcing by-laws, and partnering with both local and international stakeholders,' she added. Residents are urged to report illegal accommodation via the TMPD hotline or their nearest police station. Watch here: We made some arrests during our by-law operation in Sunnyside. @CityTshwane — Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) June 19, 2025 Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Avian Influenza and Worker Safety: Understanding and Managing the H5N1 Risk
Insights informed by the IBEC webinar ' Avian Influenza and Worker Safety: Navigating the H5N1 Challenge ' held on March 27, 2025. The rise of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), particularly the H5N1 strain, presents serious challenges to worker safety across several industries. From poultry farms and veterinary clinics to laboratories and wildlife agencies, anyone working in close contact with birds—or even pets that come into contact with infected animals—may be at risk of exposure. The Integrated Bioscience and Built Environment Consortium ( IBEC ) brought together experts to examine the occupational health risks associated with H5N1 and to discuss strategies for protecting frontline workers. Speakers highlighted critical risk pathways, personal protective measures, mental health considerations, and lessons learned from recent research and outbreaks. Who's Most at Risk? Several job sectors are particularly vulnerable to H5N1 exposure, including: Emerging evidence shows that avian influenza can affect domestic and wild cats—sometimes fatally. Dr. Kristen Coleman of the University of Maryland School of Public Health shared research showing that 607 feline deaths linked to AIV have been recorded globally over the past decade across 18 countries and 12 species of felines. Transmission often occurs when cats consume infected birds or raw poultry products. Contaminated raw chicken feed and dairy milk have been implicated in both domestic and captive animals, including tigers. Additionally, Dr. Maggie Baldwin from the Colorado Department of Agriculture cited two recent cases in indoor-only domestic cats in Colorado, with no known exposure to infected animals. These incidents suggest new and less-understood transmission routes and reinforce the importance of vigilance even in seemingly low-risk scenarios. How to Reduce Risk: Key Strategies Protecting workers from H5N1 requires a layered, proactive approach: 1. Training and Awareness Educating employees about transmission pathways, symptoms, and protective measures is essential. This includes pet safety, as infected cats may serve as early indicators of outbreaks in the area. Basic pet-related guidance includes: If a pet tests positive, it may indicate local viral circulation. 2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) High-risk workers should be equipped with: Proper training and compliance monitoring are just as important as PPE availability. 3. Strong Biosecurity and Hygiene Protocols 4. Surveillance and Monitoring Active surveillance in bird populations—both domestic and wild—is key to early detection and response. Public-private collaboration is vital for timely data sharing and coordinated action. 5. Vaccination and Medical Monitoring Although no commercial H5N1 vaccine for humans currently exists, seasonal flu vaccination can help reduce co-infection risks. For high-risk roles, employers should consider regular health surveillance and exposure testing. 6. Designated Outbreak Coordinators For organizations in high-risk sectors, appointing an H5N1 case manager to oversee protocols and incident response can improve outbreak management and reduce confusion. Enhancing Protection Through Workplace Controls Employers should implement foundational occupational health strategies: What to Do During an Outbreak If an H5N1 outbreak occurs, rapid action is crucial: Final Thoughts Avian influenza is more than a veterinary or agricultural issue, it's a growing occupational health concern that requires a multi-sector response. Key actions include prioritizing worker training and protection, maintaining robust biosecurity, and responding swiftly and transparently during outbreaks. The threat of H5N1 will continue to evolve. Ongoing research, like that of Dr. Coleman and Dr. Baldwin, surveillance programs, and interagency collaboration will be essential to minimizing harm and safeguarding both public and occupational health. Questions? Reach out to our Health & Safety team today! Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Antea Group
Agriland
30-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Report: New finance models needed to ‘de-risk' climate adaptation costs on farms
The processor-farmer relationship offers 'significant potential to drive climate transformation in the Irish agri-food sector, according to a new research report published today (Friday, May 30) by the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA). In the report 'Farm to Finance: The Processor–Farmer Nexus in Ireland's Agricultural Climate Transition', the IIEA said that the sector faces 'unique challenges' in balancing its climate targets against future competitiveness. But the author of the report, Matthew G. O' Neill, put forward that new 'hybrid financing models' are needed to de-risk investment by farmers because of the high costs associated with climate adaptation and mitigation measures. He also highlighted that agriculture accounts for 37.8% of Ireland's national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which puts pressure on both processors and farmers in the sector to decarbonise. The report stated that the credibility of climate action within Irish agri-food systems 'rests on a good monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system'. In a list of recommendations contained in the report, one outlined that platforms such as Teagasc's AgNav be further developed as independent, farmer-trusted systems, with transparent data governance, consent-based data sharing, and tangible feedback mechanisms to participating farmers. The IIEA also advised that blended finance models, sovereign-backed transition bonds, and tailored green loan products could be aligned with 'sector specific realities' to facilitate access for smaller farms. The third recommendation the report made was to promote the fairer distribution of transition costs across the food chain. It claims that sustainably linked price signals should be strengthened through voluntary and regulatory mechanisms. According to the report, expanding sustainability incentive structures, integrating technologies with safeguards, and sustaining legitimacy and commitment. IIEA report The IIEA hosted a panel discussion about the report in Dublin today (Mayo 30). Participants on the panel included the Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA) chief economist, Tadhg Buckley, Irish Business and Employers' Confederation's (IBEC) Dale Crammond, farmer and Talamh Beo representative, Ailbhe Gerrard and Agriland, deputy news editor, Francess McDonnell. IFA economist Buckley believes that the relationship between farmers and processors is 'incredibly integrated'. He said: 'Something we often don't realise is that the vast majority of farmers in Ireland don't actually interact with consumers. 'Their interaction with the marketplace is through their processor. So the processor plays a huge role in the overall framework.' 'In terms of incentivising farmers to the sustainability challenge, that relationship is absolutely integral, it's the most important relation of all actually, it's the processor farmer relationship,' Buckley added. IBEC's director of meat industry claimed that processors have to do 'everything they can' to try and advance the sustainability agenda. He believes the consumer has a significant influence on the relationship between the processor and the farmer. Crammond said: 'The price (consumers) are prepared to pay for sustainably produced products, my concern would be that there is a limit to that. 'We've seen a very significant increase in the price of beef, but that has created a challenge for the processing sector, in terms of being able to get those returns back in the marketplace,' the IBEC director explained. Source IIEA During the discussion on the report Ailbhe Grogan, representing Talamh Beo, also commented on key theme identified in the report highlighted the role that the retailer plays in the food processing chain. She said: 'With the centralisation of meat processing in larger and larger factories, I would love to see an EU supported and national government supported mobile abattoir for animal welfare that go to the farms. 'I think that there is absolutely a place for decentralising and denationalise things, quite a lot of it.' 'It takes time, it takes effort, it takes input and I would love to see the retailers and the meat processing industry talking with farmers, because farmers would like to have more options for animal kills and and more local processing,' Grogan added.
