Latest news with #NiallMatthews
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: We need to eradicate TB for good
Tuberculosis in Ireland has had a tragic and unforgettable human cost, having taken as many as 10,000 lives a year in Dublin alone at one point, in between its epidemic years of 1880 to 1950. Poor housing, overcrowding, and starvation were the main reasons TB struck terror throughout the country, from the tenements of the capital city to the smallest rural communities. Up until the mid-1940s, when a vaccine capable of treating it finally emerged, it was a silent and deadly killer. While we eventually managed to contain the disease in humans, bovine TB later emerged and it has been claimed that the State has spent the equivalent of the cost of building the new National Children's Hospital — well over €2bn at the last count — to try to eradicate the disease. It has not worked yet — but it must. With efforts to stamp out bovine TB regarded as essential to securing Ireland's access to European and world markets for our beef products — and, by extension, also protecting farm incomes — the failure to eradicate it is as embarrassing as it is pressing. We know the recorded number of infected cattle hit a historic low in 2016 but has been rising steadily since. As well as animal health, the focus of the eradication plan is largely concerned with ensuring farmers have the requisite herd health status for access to export markets for both beef and milk. The Government has already acknowledged that disease levels are continuing to deteriorate and has admitted that compensation levels to farmers had reached €20m for the first four months of this year, the same outlay as was the case for the entirety of 2020. But the incidence rates are growing and not diminishing, despite tremendous efforts to try to quell the bovine TB tide. In the current programme for government, 2030 is set as the aspirational date for the final eradication of the disease from the national herd but, even working in collaboration with farmers and the agri-sector, that appears optimistic at this moment. As was pointed out to the Government recently by the chairman of Lakeland Dairies, Niall Matthews, this 'national scourge' shows no sign of abating. He said that some 3,200 farmers supply his company and every one of them faced a deteriorating scenario. He also asserted that Ireland appears to be 'further away' than ever from achieving the much-desired 'TB-free' status. With small rural communities and individual farmers across the country currently at their wits' end, the need to finally crack this problem has become imperative. Vatican warning on US populism As Donald Trump enthusiastically sent in the national guard to counter protests against his signature immigration policy, giving us some idea of his vision for a police state in America, a timely warning about the dangers of nationalist political movements came from the Vatican. In what was perhaps the first indication that Pope Leo XIV is intent on addressing the dangers of far-right populism during his papacy, the new pontiff criticised the 'exclusionary mindset' of many modern politicians, without directly pointing the finger at any individual. His timing — as Trump set his armed forces to work across Los Angeles — was pertinent and the fact he is American was perhaps not as coincidental as might be thought. But Pope Leo's request in Rome last Sunday that God 'open borders, break down walls, [and] dispel hatred' certainly hit the right chord in addressing populists. Before becoming Pope last month, Cardinal Robert Prevost was not shy about criticising Trump and shared several disapproving posts on X, admonishing the president and his running mate JD Vance. Back in January, he said Trump's plan to deport millions of migrants from the US was 'a disgrace' and he had previously said that Trump was not a Christian because of his view on immigration. 'A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges is not a Christian,' he said of Trump in 2016. While Pope Leo did not directly address the situation in LA, where Trump is ignoring the wishes of Democratic governor Gavin Newsome with the undoubted hope of provoking havoc in the deeply Democratic state, expressing his thoughts on nationalist politics is undoubtedly opportune. Bad publicity If Israel was hoping its grievous behaviour in Gaza could be sandblasted off the world's front pages or global news websites, its hijacking of the pro-Palestine Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship could not have had a worse outcome. Israeli forces stopped the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen and detained those on-board, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, yesterday morning. In doing so, Amnesty International said, it flouted international law and gave the flotilla's inhabitants the publicity they had sought in the first place. Voyage organisers had hoped to further highlight Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza and its restriction of humanitarian aid into the region where 2m people are facing famine conditions. They certainly achieved that aim. Ironically, they may also have achieved their aim of getting humanitarian aid to the stricken Palestinian people, as the Israelis said that while those arrested on what it described as 'the selfie boat' would be sent to their home countries, the aid supplies aboard the Madleen would be delivered to Gaza. Israel might have lost this PR battle, but it is telling that such a realisation pressured the authorities there to publicly state that the aid would be forwarded to those who need it. Perhaps it's not too much to hope that Israel now commits to enabling all such aid to through to Gaza to feed its starving inhabitants. Read More Irish Examiner view: Listening is an important precursor to change
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Eradication of TB threat to Irish dairy exports `further away than ever`
The chairman of Lakeland Dairies has said Ireland appears 'further away than ever' from eradicating the 'national scourge' of bovine TB, a disease that threatens the viability of exports. Ongoing efforts to stamp the disease out are crucial to securing Ireland's access to European and world markets and, by extension, protecting farm incomes. Earlier this month it was claimed the equivalent of the cost of the national children's hospital has already been committed with an aspirational date for 2030 already set as Government policy for eradication. However, in a letter to Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon , Niall Matthews warned of the deteriorating situation faced by many of the 3,200 farming families supplying the co-op. READ MORE 'The emotional and financial turmoil associated with a TB breakdown in a farmer's herd is incredible,' he said. 'The annual routine of a herd going on test and the reading three days later brings worry, uncertainty and unimaginable stress. Unfortunately, we are seeing a worrying trend develop with TB incidence rates increasing. We appear further away than ever from the ambition of achieving a TB-free status.' [ Bovine TB Q&A: What is it and why is it increasing? Opens in new window ] Mr Matthews was writing to the Minister to invite him to next month's Milk Quality Awards and took the opportunity to raise a number of key issues including the protection of the nitrates derogation and generational renewal in the farming sector, a 'real area of concern'. Bovine TB rates reached a historic low in 2016 but have been rising since . As well as animal health, the eradication programme in Ireland is chiefly concerned with ensuring farmers have the requisite herd health status for access to export markets for both beef and milk. 'We're at a critically low level of housing stock' for buyers and renters Listen | 33:06 In the Dáil this month, Mr Heydon acknowledged that disease levels had continued to deteriorate. Compensation to farmers reached €20 million in the first four months of this year, compared to the same outlay for the entirety of 2020. Sinn Féin agriculture spokesman Martin Kenny said the current estimated cost of the national children's hospital – well over €2 billion – had already been committed in attempts to eliminate the disease, largely without success. The Programme for Government includes a review and update of the National TB 2030 Eradication Strategy in collaboration with farmers and industry. The cost of the current eradication programme has escalated considerably in recent years, with previous official estimates rising to a total expenditure of about €1 billion by 2030.
Agriland
20-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Lakeland Dairies launches Young Farmer Programme
Lakeland Dairies has today (Tuesday, May 20) announced the launch of its new Young Farmer Programme aimed at supporting and developing the next generation of farmers within its supplier base. The Young Farmer Programme is open to Lakeland Dairies milk suppliers and adult family members of suppliers who are under the age of 35. The programme has been designed to deepen participants' understanding of their cooperative, while equipping them with the practical knowledge and leadership skills necessary to play an active role in its future. As part of the programme, young farmers will receive insights into the working of co-ops in key areas such as financial literacy, farm succession and inheritance planning. There are also modules on growing the understanding of how global dairy markets operate as well as getting an understanding of the operational elements of dairy processing. There will also be on-farm knowledge transfer opportunities to promote the sharing of best practices. Participants will benefit from discounted input products through Lakeland Dairies' Agribusiness division, which the co-op has said ensures both an educational and practical support package. Lakeland Dairies is the second largest dairy cooperative on the island of Ireland with 3,200 suppliers producing 2 billion litres of high-quality milk annually. This milk is used to produce over 240 products which are distributed to over 100 global markets. The co-op has said that the Young Farmer Programme is a clear commitment to promote sustainable farming practices and long-term viability within the dairy sector, ensuring that its members, current and future, continue to thrive together. Commenting on the Young Farmer Programme, Lakeland Dairies chairperson Niall Matthews said: 'We are pleased to launch this innovative initiative, which reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting generational renewal within our own co-op as well as across the entire sector. 'This programme is about more than just education; it represents an investment in the future of our co-op empowering the next generation of leaders with the tools and confidence to shape its direction. 'Lakeland Dairies has been in existence for nearly 130 years and by supporting initiatives such as our new Young Farmer Programme, we want to ensure that we are strong co-op with committed farm families for another 130 years.' Manager of Lakeland Dairies Member Relations, Eamon Duignan encouraged those interested to apply: 'I strongly encourage all eligible suppliers and family members to take part in this very exciting and well-designed programme. 'It is the latest in a series of initiatives introduced by Lakeland Dairies to support our young farmers, and it reflects our dedication to their long-term success and involvement.'
Irish Independent
22-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Lakeland Dairies warns of ‘damage' from reforms to UK inheritance tax
Lakeland Dairies, based in Monaghan and has operations north of the Border, raised its concerns during a visit by Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn to its food-service facility in Newtownards, Co Down, last week. The facility manufactures products for 80 global markets. The co-op, which has milk suppliers on both sides of the Border, said it raised the importance of frictionless trade under the Windsor Framework, the need for a new UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement as well as concerns over the impact on family farms of inheritance tax reform at the meeting. It was heartening to see the secretary of state so engaged and interested Farms had been exempt from IHT but from April 2026, the levy will be payable on farms worth over £1m (€1.16m). Niall Matthews, chairperson of Lakeland Dairies, said the firm was 'delighted' to welcome Mr Benn. 'It was heartening to see the secretary of state so engaged and interested in the NI dairy industry,' he said. 'As the largest dairy co-op in NI, and the second largest of the island, we know that the dairy sector is an economic powerhouse supporting thousands of family farms across the island. 'Policies that protect our ability to trade seamlessly, support generational renewal, and futureproof our industry are vital,' Mr Matthews said. 'There is a real opportunity for the UK and EU to work constructively on a new SPS agreement, and we were encouraged to see that the secretary of state is listening closely to the sector's concerns. 'These are not abstract issues, they go to the heart of our way of life, the sustainability of rural communities, and the future success of the dairy industry.' Keith Agnew, the co-op's vice-chairperson, added: 'Regarding the agricultural property relief (APR) inheritance tax issue, we made it very clear to the secretary of state that changes are necessary in order to not damage the very fabric of the sector. 'A parent transfers the farm to their son or daughter to build upon their successes. The land inheritance tax, in its current form, has the potential to seriously damage the family farm model and the generational renewal we need to continue to move our world-class sector forward', Mr Agnew said.
