Latest news with #StatutoryInstrument
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Ragwort Growing Outside Leinster House Addressed Dafm
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that the ragwort found growing on the front lawn of Leinster House has been dealt with. Earlier this month, Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy highlighted that the noxious weed was growing outside the Irish parliament, which he described as "a shameful symbol of non-compliance". "If ragwort can flourish outside the very building where laws are made, it undermines our credibility and duty to uphold them," he said. Under the Noxious Weeds Act, 1936 it is an offence for owners and occupiers of land not to prevent the spread of specified weeds. The department of agriculture is responsible for overseeing the control and the prevention of the spread of certain weeds where there is a risk to agricultural land, as determined by a risk assessment. The noxious weeds specified in the legislation includes common ragwort which has distinctive bright yellow flowers. Ragwort growing outside Leinster House Source: @carthy_aubrey "The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine liaised with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which is responsible for the management of Leinster House. "The OPW has advised that the ragwort has been addressed," a DAFM spokesperson told Agriland. Following a public consultation, a new Statutory Instrument (SI) was signed by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon in May 2025. This SI consolidates all secondary legislation on noxious weeds, codifies the existing species of noxious weeds with their botanical names. In addition, the measure designates blackgrass as a noxious weed and limits controls to certain species of thistle and dock. Over a ten year period to 2023, there were 198 complaints relating to noxious weeds made to DAFM and 60% of these related to agricultural land. All complaints over the 10 year period related to ragwort, thistle or dock or a combination of these.
The Journal
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Over half of those staying at Athlone asylum centre could begin to leave next week, High Court hears
MORE THAN 70 asylum seekers staying at a controversial asylum seeker centre in Athlone have been offered alternative housing while the government prepares emergency legislation to fast-track refugee accommodation, the High Court has heard. At the court today, senior counsel Aoife Carroll, for the government, told Ms Justice Emily Farrell that of the remaining 125 people at the accommodation centre, 70 people had received offers of alternative accommodation and that the court should know their answers next week. Last month, Ms Carroll told the court that 137 people were in emergency accommodation at the facility but that figures were dropping as alternative accommodation was being sought. The High Court action was taken by Independent Ireland councillor for Moate-Athlone District Paul Hogan, who successfully applied to the court in December for a judicial review, arguing that the expedited development was unlawful. The State has conceded to the court that the statutory instrument used to expedite the construction of the facility was 'invalid' and is working on repairing legislation. A Statutory Instrument is a secondary legislation, made by a Minister, modifying or supplementing existing laws. Councillor Hogan is taking the case against the office of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Councillor Hogan claimed the Minister failed to adequately 'screen' the project for potential environmental impacts and that the Minister lacked the expertise to carry out such assessments in such an expedited manner. Protests have been held in Athlone over the plan to further develop army-tent accommodation for a possible 1,000 asylum seekers. Advertisement Last month, Ms Justice Farrell said she would defer judgment quashing the use of the Statutory Instrument used to develop the emergency accommodation at Lissywollen in Athlone, Co Westmeath. Ms Justice Farrell had said she wanted to wait for updates and to see draft legislation from the Oireachtas. The government submitted it intended to remedy the legal issue over the bypassing of environmental assessments for the accommodation. Today, Ms Carroll said the department was continuing to work to reduce the number of people at the facility but that there was 'significant pressure' on the system. Regarding the repairing legislation, Ms Carroll said 'we have not made the progress hoped'. Ms Carroll said that 'significant work' had been done on a general scheme and that it was hoped this would go for drafting in preparation for legislation. Ms Carroll again asked for the court not to make final orders in the matter and to maintain the status quo pending the legislation which is hoped to be put to the Dail in November. Ms Justice Farrell adjourned the matter to next week but warned she could not keep deferring final orders when the government had 'ample opportunity' to put legislation before the Dáil. David O'Brien BL, for Councillor Hogan, said the government indicating 'loose dates' had been 'a regrettable motif' in the case. Any November date for the legislation to come before the Dáil, which was indicated to the court in May, had been initially 'unrealistic… now, it is at the point of untenable' and his client was left 'without a modicum of explanation', he said. Councillor Hogan claims the ministerial process employed was 'unlawful, irrational and a breach of fair procedures'. 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
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Big savings boost for millions as ‘game changing' pension rules confirmed by government
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOUSEHOLDS will get new support to help them boost their savings under new government and watchdog plans announced today. Previously savers who had cash with pension and investment firms couldn't get help with where to put their money without paying for financial advice. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Millions of savers will get extra support with their finances under the plans But under huge new plans announced today by the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) financial firms will be able to give "targeted support" to savers. This will help them to decide where to invest their money to get the best return. Firms will also be able to make recommendations to customers based on groups of similar people in comparable circumstances. The Sun first revealed the proposals exclusively last August. The plans will help people to understand how to make the most of their pensions. Many people are not saving enough for retirement and need more help to prepare to stop working. Most people with a pension that is run by an FCA-regulated firm access their pension pot without taking financial advice or guidance, the regulator said. The Treasury intends to bring in the changes with a Statutory Instrument, which is a way to introduce and refine laws without needing to create a new Act of Parliament. This is often quicker than trying to pass a new law. The changes come after warnings from the Treasury and FCA that too few people are able to get the help they need to manage their finances. Fewer than 9% of adults accessed financial advice in the year to May 2024. Meanwhile, many are turning to informal and unregulated sources of advice, including social media. Estimates suggest that 13million people are not investing where they could be. Plus, £430billion is being held in cash, even after taking out emergency savings. What are the different types of pensions? WE round-up the main types of pension and how they differ: Personal pension or self-invested personal pension (SIPP) - This is probably the most flexible type of pension as you can choose your own provider and how much you invest. - This is probably the most flexible type of pension as you can choose your own provider and how much you invest. Workplace pension - The Government has made it compulsory for employers to automatically enrol you in your workplace pension unless you opt out. These so-called defined contribution (DC) pensions are usually chosen by your employer and you won't be able to change it. Minimum contributions are 8%, with employees paying 5% (1% in tax relief) and employers contributing 3%. - The Government has made it compulsory for employers to automatically enrol you in your workplace pension unless you opt out. These so-called defined contribution (DC) pensions are usually chosen by your employer and you won't be able to change it. Minimum contributions are 8%, with employees paying 5% (1% in tax relief) and employers contributing 3%. Final salary pension - This is also a workplace pension but here, what you get in retirement is decided based on your salary, and you'll be paid a set amount each year upon retiring. It's often referred to as a gold-plated pension or a defined benefit (DB) pension. But they're not typically offered by employers anymore. - This is also a workplace pension but here, what you get in retirement is decided based on your salary, and you'll be paid a set amount each year upon retiring. It's often referred to as a gold-plated pension or a defined benefit (DB) pension. But they're not typically offered by employers anymore. New state pension - This is what the state pays to those who reach state pension age after April 6 2016. The maximum payout is £203.85 a week and you'll need 35 years of National Insurance contributions to get this. You also need at least ten years' worth to qualify for anything at all. - This is what the state pays to those who reach state pension age after April 6 2016. The maximum payout is £203.85 a week and you'll need 35 years of National Insurance contributions to get this. You also need at least ten years' worth to qualify for anything at all. Basic state pension - If you reach the state pension age on or before April 2016, you'll get the basic state pension. The full amount is £156.20 per week and you'll need 30 years of National Insurance contributions to get this. If you have the basic state pension you may also get a top-up from what's known as the additional or second state pension. Those who have built up National Insurance contributions under both the basic and new state pensions will get a combination of both schemes. Experts have hailed the move as a major step for savers. Tom Selby, director of public policy at AJ Bell, said: "Targeted Support could be a game changer for Brits, enabling millions of people to get more useful help about saving and long-term investing. "This should ensure millions of people are better prepared, from building a rainy-day pot to saving for retirement.' Mike Barrett, consulting director at The Lang Cat, agrees and described the announcement as "a real positive step forward". He said: "Customers will be able to call their provider directly to ask for help. "The provider will be able to monitor your pension to check if you are in an expensive fund, not on track or withdrawing too much from your pot. There will also be lots of regulatory protection." The announcements are part of a wider government plan to help people make the most of their money. The FCA is working on reforms to help the public understand the risks and benefits of investing. It is also working to reform pensions in order to make sure people have enough money in retirement. Meanwhile, it is also developing a strategy to combat the barriers that stop savers from accessing the right financial products and services. How will the changes work? Banks will let customers know when there is an opportunity to move their money from a low-return current account to higher-performing stocks and shares investments. The firms will need to explain the nature and limitations of the service they are providing. This will help customers to understand they are not receiving a more personal type of advice. Customers will be warned of the risks when investing, which will help them to judge where best to put their money. They will also be guided through the different investments on offer, which often puts savers off investing. Firms that offer targeted support will be subject to special conduct standards, which are designed to protect customers. They will need to apply to the FCA or the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) before they can offer targeted support. This will give both regulators the chance to check that a firm meets the criteria to offer the support. Who will benefit from them? The Treasury said the changes will help three key groups of investors. People who are not saving enough for retirement Currently firms can warn customers that they may not be saving enough for retirement. But through targeted support firms will be able to suggest an alternative pension contribution rate. The firms will also be able to help customers choose between their options when they are close to retiring. Consumers who are struggling to access their pensions At the moment firms can give savers factual information about their retirement options. For example, they can explain the key features of an annuity or pension drawdown. But under targeted support firms will be able to suggest a course of action, such as a certain investment product. New investors The plans will also allow firms to help those with substantial savings to consider investing. It will be able to suggest investment products to help customers get started. What else has been announced? Alongside the introduction of targeted support, the FCA has also published several other proposals. It wants to simplify its advice rules to make clear the difference between simplified and more widespread advice. This will give firms confidence that they can provide simple, focused advice to customers who have straightforward needs. It also wants to improve its guidance on what counts as advice. This will help firms to understand the opportunities they have to give customers support that does not count as advice. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Irish Examiner
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
New scheme offers 60% support for nutrient storage
The new 60% Nutrient Storage Investment Scheme effectively doubles the overall grant funding available, said Seamus Nolan, Teagasc's Scheme Support Unit Specialist, in a recent Dairy Edge podcast. Prior to this, farmers in general would have been eligible for only a 40% slurry storage grant, although young trained farmers, women farmers, and organic farmers were already eligible for a 60% grant. The new scheme came into effect in January, 2025, as part of TAMS 3, the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes. 'Those nutrient storage investments that are covered are manure pits, mass concrete tanks, circular slurry stores, and geomembrane-lined stores," Mr Nolan explained. Sub-investments are similarly supported (related slats, etc). However, farmers must already have enough slurry storage before they can apply. 'All nutrient storage investments, or animal housing, are deemed nitrates-related investments, so in order to be eligible, you have to be nitrates-compliant currently, in order to apply," said Mr Nolan. 'The Department assesses your current storage. As part of the application, you have to submit your current storage facilities on the farm, and they assess you on the basis of the most recently completed winter, in terms of livestock. For people who are over 100 kilos of organic nitrogen stocking rate from January 1, 2025, they must have storage for all animals on the holding for the most recently completed winter. If you're less than 100 kilos, so you're more extensive, you can use what's called 'reduced storage' to comply. Essentially you can say that a number of animals are out-wintered', Mr Nolan explained. 'If you apply, and you're deemed to be not eligible, there is a good possibility that you will be cross-reported, and you will get a farm inspection on the basis of it," he cautioned. Slurry storage space Currently, slurry storage space is calculated on the basis of 0.33 cubic metres excretion per cow per week. 'That is being reviewed. The chances are that is going to increase. It probably won't increase until the new Statutory Instrument is produced. That will potentially be in 2026," he said. 'If you're tight on storage now, when the new figures come in, you're going to be extra tight. You're probably going to be short. It's a good time to review what storage you have on the farm. 'Any new facilities that you are designing, or capacity, should be based potentially on those new figures that will come into force. A farmer might do their figures now and they might say 'I'm okay, I don't need to apply for anything', but bear in mind, you're compliant now with the current regulations, but the chances are you won't be compliant in maybe 12 months' time. Bear in mind as well that normally when the Department introduces new regulations in terms of the storage, they will give farmers approximately 12 months to become compliant. 'Whether we talk about a 20% buffer based on the current figures, or we work off the new figures, it's 20% over and above the current figures, no matter what way you look at it," he said. He advised calculating storage at 20 to 25% in excess of the current requirements. '20 to 25% over your current storage should leave you reasonably safe', he said. He advised farmers to contact their own advisor, who will be knowledgeable about the current specifications. Much depends on the future plan for the farm, when calculating future nutrient storage capacity. If there is a plan to increase the herd in a year or two, that should be factored in when planning to avail of the new nutrient storage grant. 'An individual farmer has a €90,000 ceiling at 60% for the nutrient storage element, and they also have a €90,000 ceiling, assuming they have no other investments taking place, to put the shed over the tank, and that will be available at 40% for the ordinary farmer, or at 60% for the young farmer, or the woman farmer or an organic farmer. A registered farm partnership will qualify for double the €90,000 available for the nutrient storage scheme," said Mr Nolan. Even if a farmer has drawn down TAMS 3 funding already, the new nutrient storage scheme is separate, and the farmer is eligible up to the full €90,000. 'If they had applied for a tank prior to this nutrient storage scheme coming into place, that tank would have been approved under their existing €90,000 ceiling, so that would not come out of the nutrient storage scheme ceiling, because it was applied for BISS application." Drawings submitted for tanks or housing should fully comply with DAFM specifications. Planning applications Mr Nolan highlighted that planning applications must be made when constructing slurry tanks, so preparation needs to start in good time. 'Any kind of a structure at all under the Department's TAMS scheme requires either full and final planning permission at the time of application, or a declaration of exemption. Both of those have to come from the local authority." Usually planning permission, rather than an exemption, will be required. That process will take at least three months, if there are no objections, or no additional information is sought. 'I can go ahead and apply for TAMS once I have planning permission, but that application for TAMS will not be processed until the TAMS tranche closes. That tranche doesn't close until September', Mr Nolan explained. 'At the minute, you're talking about, I'd say, five months potentially, at a minimum, before you have approval, after the tranche date closes." Depending on the scale of take-up of the grant, contractors may be busy and not readily available, once grants have been approved. The DAFM is currently reviewing nutrient storage grant costings, given the significant increase in many component prices, and new reference costings will come into force towards the end of 2025. 'Those costs won't be backdated, if you already have an application in the system."
Agriland
01-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Merchants Alliance seeks ‘urgent' meeting with Heydon
Merchants Alliance Ireland has claimed that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, is yet to respond to requests to meet with the alliance. The alliance represents the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), Irish Licensed Merchants Association (ILMA), and Acorn Independent Merchants. This includes over 550 agri-business outlets, and more than 4,000 employees across Ireland. Merchants Alliance Ireland are hoping to meet with Minister Heydon regarding the proposed Statutory Instrument (SI), which it claims will reclassify all anti-parasitic veterinary medicines as prescription-only medicines (POM). It has warned that many of these businesses face 'imminent closure' unless the minister suspends the SI, and engages with the sector directly. The alliance said: 'We are deeply disappointed by the minister's apparent unwillingness to meet. His decision to proceed with this SI, as currently drafted, will effectively legislate hundreds of licensed merchants and co-operatives out of existence within weeks.' Merchants Alliance Ireland The alliance claims that despite multiple requests to meet the minister, no meeting has been granted. It also said that no new prescribing guidance has been issued by the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). According to the alliance, the National Veterinary Prescription System (NVPS) remains largely unused by the veterinary community. It believes this further compounds the 'operational paralysis' facing merchant outlets. 'The minister appears to be ignoring some five years of constructive engagement and reasonable proposals to retain a fair and balanced supply chain,' the alliance said. 'Instead, this SI rewards fear-mongering and effectively hands veterinary interests a near-monopoly on vital animal health products.' According to the alliance, the reclassification of anti-parasitics to POM status will mean licensed retailers can no longer legally supply these essential products unless directly prescribed by a veterinarian. It said: 'This will not just be a blow to our businesses, it is an attack on rural commerce and farmer livelihoods. Farmers will ultimately pay the price through reduced access, reduced service, and increased costs. 'Merchants Alliance Ireland is urgently seeking a meeting with Minister Heydon to convey our sincere and urgent concerns for a reassessment of how anti-parasitics are regulated under EU legislation in an Irish context. 'We have requested very respectfully to meet the minister and await a concrete reply. As it stands, the minister's plan risks irreparable damage to Ireland's rural economy and agricultural infrastructure,' it added.
