Latest news with #MichaelO'Connell
Agriland
5 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
ICMSA urges farmers to be 'bluetongue alert' over coming weeks
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) is urging farmers to be extra vigilant due to an increased risk of bluetongue virus. The chair of the association's livestock committee, Michael O'Connell said Ireland is currently one of the only countries in the EU that is free from bluetongue. Bluetongue is a notifiable exotic viral disease caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) which can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species, such as cattle, sheep and goats, along with camelids. The virus, which does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, is primarily spread by the bite of infected midges, which are more active in warmer months. According to O'Connell, the disease is 'complex' in terms of control, noting there has been seven BTV cases in Britain since July 12. He said that the effects of the disease on herds and flocks include serious illness, death or, in cases where animals survive, immune system suppression, fertility issues, and milk yield suppression. O'Connell said the losses and economic impacts on farms across the EU have been "monumental" with some farms "unlikely to ever recover". 'Early detection is key and presently the midges which act as vectors for the disease are extremely active. "Midge activity increases once mean temperatures increase to over 12°C and considering the summer we have had so far, we have to assume more midge activity' he said. The ICMSA Livestock Committee chair said that farmers must be on alert till at least mid-October. O'Connell said that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) are "doing everything possible". The department is running monitoring programmes across the southeast to ensure that any suspect case or fallen animal with unknown causes is being tested. 'Our colleagues in Northern Ireland have been able to access a vaccine for the most common known strain of the virus, BTV 3 since late July, but it is currently unavailable in the Republic of Ireland. "Reports from the UK is that uptake has been quite low, with majority of those being breeding herds. "It is vital that we give Irish farmers the opportunity and option to protect their herds and livelihoods, but there is the possibility of one strain of the vaccine 'camouflaging' and suppressing the virus in blood tests and that possibility needs to be acknowledged. "Is this causing more problems than it is giving reassurances? We have to take into account the potential accuracy and consequences regarding screening for the disease and trade restrictions," O'Connell said. The ICMSA Livestock chair said that if farmers are unsure of the health status of an animal or reasons surrounding deaths, they should contact their local district veterinary office or local vet. 'We are in a unique position at present in Ireland. We are the only country in the EU with a licence to export live animals due to our BTV free status. "It can be seen from this year's live export figures where we have an increase of roughly 35,000 head of cattle exported year to date that BTV-free status is hugely important. "Member states have had huge losses amongst their herds and are importing cattle to fill the deficit. "It is imperative that we do everything in our power to continue to fulfil the need for live cattle around the EU and our capacity to do that is hugely dependent on remaining bluetongue-free," O'Connell said.
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Farmers hold all the cards when it comes to beef
Beef processors have been forced to halt price pulling due to dwindling beef supplies. ICMSA Livestock Committee Chairperson, Michael O'Connell, has said some beef processors 'have sought to pull the wool over farmers' eyes' by quoting lower base prices for steers and heifers. Processors have been quoting base prices of €7 for steers and €7.10 for heifers; however, an additional 20-30c/kg is available for farmers. 'Processors should be ashamed to quote €7.00/kg base price for steers when they are giving up to €6.70c/kg flat for P and O grade Friesian cull cows. That leaves a prime underage P+3 Friesian steer at the same nominal value as a P grade cow,' said Mr O'Connell. Mr O'Connell went on to say that for the past 10 days, processors have felt the pressure on supply due to the end of shed-finished cattle and a slow start to cattle coming from grass. 'We have seen in the past month or so, kill plans being reduced as a means of controlling price and supply, but this can't last forever, and the demand for Irish beef across Europe is huge,' cautioned Mr O'Connell. 'I'm sure factories are praying that the 'calendar beef farming' 30-month age limit will convince farmers with January and February 2023-born cattle to consider slaughtering these shortly. But the weather is favourable and cattle are thriving well - there is no pressure to kill them… They'd be much better off just acknowledging the reality that we all see and go out and buy the cattle from farmers as opposed to going into the farmers' yards and looking foolish by offering obviously below-par prices,' said Mr O'Connell. Noting that the numbers of cattle across Europe are at an all-time low, Mr O'Connell stated that Irish live exports have never been as strong due to our Bluetongue-free status. 'We are sure that the volumes of 2023 and 2024 born cattle leaving the country have added to the pressures on processors. Demand for Irish cattle is off the charts and is going to continue with predictions of the EU herd falling by a further 5 to 7% this year,' Mr O'Connell said. The Livestock committee Chair also called for the 'big players' in Irish processing to recognise the value of Irish beef and live exports, with European counterparts able to recognise the high environmental and legislative standards Irish beef meets. 'For the last fortnight, reality reasserted itself, and we see the factories getting nervous about the numbers and unable to pull prices further. The pressure is on them; the old tricks and ruses aren't working because the facts are just overriding them. ICMSA's advice is: keep possession and only sell when they are receiving the true value of the cattle,' suggested Mr O'Connell. Mr O'Connell invites farmers to study their options with finished cattle. He says that loyalty to processors should be gone following the price cuts of the last few weeks, and farmers should not take the first price offered to them by agents. 'The pressure is off farmers with the improvement in the weather; cattle are content and thriving, and the majority of silage has been cut. By contrast, the pressure on processors has increased and we're telling farmers to stand their ground on beef prices in the coming weeks,' concluded Mr O'Connell.
Sunday World
14-06-2025
- Sunday World
Dad-of-five (45) made ‘degrading sexual and racist' slurs to hospital workers
Michael O'Connell (45) had relapsed into drug abuse at the time and had no recollection of the threats, Michael O'Connell was charged with breach of the peace. Photo: Andrew Phelan A hospital patient being treated for a leg injury was arrested after making 'degrading sexual and racist' remarks to staff and threatening to 'get them shot'. Father-of-five Michael O'Connell (45) had relapsed into drug abuse at the time and had no recollection of the threats, which were not said with 'intent', his defence said. Judge Áine Clancy told him it was 'astounding' that he would speak to staff in a hospital like this, but said she would spare him a three-month prison sentence if he is found suitable for 80 hours of community service. O'Connell, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour. Dublin District Court heard gardaí were called to St Vincent's Hospital at 1.30am on October 24 last year, when staff complained he had made 'degrading sexual and racist comments' to them and threatened them. The accused, from Shankill, had worked as a window fitter but his life deteriorated when he began abusing drugs, his solicitor Matthew de Courcy said. Michael O'Connell was charged with breach of the peace. Photo: Andrew Phelan Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 14 2025 He suffered a bereavement that 'sent him into a complete tailspin'. O'Connell broke his leg, developed a 'flesh-eating' condition and had to go to hospital regularly. Judge Clancy adjourned the case for a community service assessment. Separately, O'Connell was arrested for banging on the front doors of two houses in Ranelagh and Stillorgan last September. He was intoxicated and 'not making any sense.' The judge said she would strike those public order charges out if he made a charity donation.
Agriland
06-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Latest beef quotes described as ‘sneaky'
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that farmers will feel frustrated and disrespected by the 'sneaky' 10c/kg cut in beef quotes late last week. Chairperson of ICMSA's Livestock Committee, Michael O'Connell said the price drop was 'slyly introduced' by procurement staff introducing new base prices from mid-week onwards. 'It's strikingly similar to last year; at the first sign of uncertainty in the trade, factories pull prices by 10c/kg. 'Why does this 'uncertainty' always manifest itself in the form of price cut to the farmer primary-producer?' he added. The ICMSA stated that the only certainty is that beef production is down globally. Noting the record beef prices since the turn of the year, O'Connell pointed out that set against the costs of production and value of store cattle, these price increases were needed. He said that returns for beef farmers in recent years had been very marginal and farmer hopes had been high that this year might see prices provide a 'buffer' against that trend. 'We had hoped that this year would see the kind of beef prices that the market indicated and that long-suffering farmers deserved. But, as usual, factories have 'thrown the toys out of the pram' in an attempt to regain control over the trade with this farcical price cut.,' O'Connell continued. 'When we look at the prices paid to beef farmers this spring, it is perfectly obvious that factories have had the capacity to pay well for cattle when there is a demand. '…In 2019, at the time of the beef protests at factory gates around the country, prices were at an all-time low of €3.40/kg for steers and heifers. Today, we [have] seen base prices of €7.60-7.70 for steers and heifers – more than double. What has changed in this period? 'The answer is the mindset of Irish farmers as well as the cattle herd size across Europe and internationally,' he said. The ICMSA chair said that the numbers of suckler cows has reduced dramatically, while the age demographic of Irish farmers has steadily increased. He stated that farmers are now testing the marketplace by selling factory fit cattle in marts and leaving factory agents and procurement staff to battle it out ringside. Alongside that trend, huge pressure has been put on factories by the increasing number of calves, weanlings and beef cattle being exported into Europe and further afield, according to the ICMSA. 'For the past two or three years, cull cows have insulated and propped up factory throughput. But the latest throughput figures have shown that the cull cow kill has peaked with current figures falling below last year's,' O'Connell continued. 'Young bulls are also falling steadily, but this has been an ongoing trend due to the blatant 'blackguarding' of young bull finishers over the last number of years. 'That group who finished young bulls are falling rapidly at exactly the same time as we see huge developments in live exports. 'And this is where the factories' 'mind games' have caught up with them; they've spent so much time deliberately manoeuvring to keep prices low with reduced kill plans, short weeks and instilling uncertainty in demand that no-one can, or should, believe them.' Reduced kills The ICMSA Livestock chairperson said that reduced kill plans were nothing more than a price controlling measure. 'It creates a sense of panic among farmers to try offload cattle before a further price drop but realistically, it is a method of 'flushing out' the last of the shed cattle,' he said. 'Factories will naturally kill their own feedlot cattle at the expense of farmers' cattle. Most factories are reduced to three to four days per week suggesting that they are trying to stretch out a limited availability of slaughter-fit cattle – and that analysis is supported by the reduction in cow and young bull kill. 'I would urge farmers to sensibly consider their options before giving in to factories and particularly where we're talking cattle off grass. It is very early to kill cattle from grass, with or without feed. 'Cattle may look fleshy and fit, but it is amazing the thrive the cattle would do in the next month, and I believe farmers would be disappointed with returns on these cattle.' The ICMSA is urging farmers, particularly with grass cattle, to consider the mart, as the 'dying power' would not be in these cattle yet. The farm organisation has said that the mart trade this week is ahead of factory trade with beef Hereford and Angus cattle making up to €4.10/kg liveweight. 'No matter what way you add it up, a base price of €7.50 with a breed bonus of 20c and taking your chance on the 'mysterious' grid is not going to come up to €4.10/kg liveweight in the mart,' O'Connell explained. 'Continental steers and heifers are commanding up to €4.30 and up to €4.50/kg in cases of better-quality cattle. I'd really urge those farmers with cattle off grass to consider the marts.'
Agriland
18-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
ICMSA: New EU deforestation law ‘makes mockery' of simplification
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 'makes a mockery' out of the EU's efforts to simplify regulations for farms and businesses. The aim of the EU Deforestation Regulation, according to the European Commission, is to ensure that goods in the EU market do not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation, both within the EU and globally. The new regulation means that companies will only be allowed to sell products in the EU if the supplier provides a 'due diligence' statement confirming that the product does not come from deforested land or has led to forest degradation. The regulation was set to come into effect at the end of 2024. However, this was deferred until the end of 2025, and mid-2026 for smaller businesses. Despite that deferral, the ICMSA has claimed that the commission will 'have zero credibility with farmers on their much-hyped simplification process…if they proceed with the EU Deforestation Regulation as currently structured'. The chairperson of ICMSA's Livestock Committee, Michael O'Connell, remarked that the requirements of the EDUR are 'illogical, dizzyingly complex, make no sense, and place an unacceptable burden on farmers'. 'It is surely not too much to ask the commission to decide one way or the other what they are trying to do. The new level of administration and form-filling involved in the deforestation regulation makes a mockery of the so-called simplification process,' he said. The vast majority of farmland in Ireland has been declared on the [basic payment] system all the way back to 1994, so there's over 30 years of records along with an inspection regime that means the Department [of Agriculture, Food and the Marine] has excellent data on every parcel of land and its usage. 'What the EU Deforestation Regulation will involve is effectively to ignore all this data and implement a new regime where farmers will have to declare annually where their cattle are grazing or their feed is coming? What about the information that we've been giving them for the last 30 years? Why can't they use that?' O' Connell commented. 'We're being asked to start from scratch again and comply with yet another additional administration system; a whole new regulatory regime that will almost certainly cause serious problems when introduced and which ultimately will not achieve its objective,' he added. The ICMSA is calling for the EU to allow the department to utilise this data and use it to pre-approve or reject farmers under the EUDR for 2026. 'They have the data and it is simply a case of verifying it. There should be absolutely no requirement on pre-approved farmers to submit documentation or otherwise and the produce from their farms should be marketed as normal,' O' Connell said. He added: 'ICMSA cannot understand the logic of the EU Commission of introducing a ridiculously complex system on top of the system that's already giving them the data they need to make the decisions.'
