Latest news with #agri-food
Irish Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Government to raise concerns with EU about proposed retaliatory tariffs on aviation, medtech and agrifood
The Government is writing to the European Commission to raise its concerns about the possible inclusion of aviation, medtech and agri-food in the EU's list of potential retaliatory tariffs to be levied against the United States. Tánaiste Simon Harris will update Cabinet on Tuesday on Ireland's concerns about the list of potential European tariffs that will kick in if negotiations on a trade deal fail. It is understood he will raise his particular concern about countermeasures relating to aviation, medtech and agri-food. The concerns will be conveyed in a letter from Mr Harris to EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic in advance of the deadline for the public consultation period on the countermeasures. READ MORE Mr Harris, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, is expected to outline four arguments to Mr Sefcovic about the EU's approach to the tariffs: they should not harm EU business more than the US; they should avoid an escalation of trade tensions; they should not affect one member state disproportionately; and they should avoid unnecessary costs. [ EU warns it could accelerate retaliatory tariffs over US duties Opens in new window ] Talks on a trade deal between the EU and the US have continued, but the bloc's countermeasures are due to take effect from July 14th if no agreement is reached. Separately, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless will seek Cabinet approval to provide almost 500 new third-level places to train key workers in four areas experiencing staff shortages. Mr Lawless will bring a joint memo along with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Children Norma Foley and Minister for Education Helen McEntee. The four areas are health, social care, disability and education. The memo will outline how the funding will allow 461 additional places in priority professions, with the majority commencing in 2025. All places will repeat annually, which will provide a minimum of 1,600 new graduates at the end of the first cycle. This immediate expansion will be in nine key health and social care professions: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, radiation therapy, radiography, podiatry, social work, medical science and dietetics. The Cabinet will also hear details of a proposed new law to combat terrorism being brought by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan. The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 will allow for the prosecution of a broader range of terrorist activities in light of the evolving nature of terrorism. The Bill proposes to add three new terrorist offences to the statute book: receiving training for terrorism, travelling for the purpose of terrorism and organising or facilitating travelling for the purpose of terrorism. Mr O'Callaghan will tell colleagues the new law will bring Ireland's counter-terrorism laws into line with those of other EU member states. Mr Harris, in his role as Minister for Defence, will bring a separate memo seeking an incentive scheme to retain air traffic control personnel in the Air Corps. The Defence Forces has had difficulty retaining a sufficient number of highly skilled specialists in air traffic control in light of competition from the private sector. Mr Harris is proposing that a scheme with financial incentives for committed service – already available to pilots – should be extended to air traffic control personnel. The Tánaiste will tell the Cabinet that there is a worldwide shortage of air traffic control personnel and the measures he is proposing are needed to help return the Air Corps to a 24/7 service. At present, the air traffic control service is confined to limited hours because of staff shortages. Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary will present his department's annual report for 2024, which shows 2.78 million people are at work, while overall spending for his department is at €27 billion, which is a quarter of Government spending. The Cabinet is expected to approve a further 12-month extension for Prof Mary Horgan, the interim Chief Medical Officer.
Arabian Business
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Irish food and drink exports to Middle East and Africa hit $624m in 2024
Ireland's food and drink exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reached €546.9 million ($624m) in 2024, underlining the region's growing importance for the country's agri-food sector, according to Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board. The milestone was announced alongside findings from Bord Bia's second annual CEO Pulse Survey, which reflects the perspectives of Irish food and drink companies responsible for nearly €11bn ($12.5bn) in global exports—two-thirds of the nation's total export value. The survey revealed that 56 per cent of Irish food and drink exporters anticipate growth in the MENA region in 2025, despite ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges. Irish food exports to Middle East Exporters cited robust consumer demand, rising interest in sustainably sourced products, and deepening trade relationships as key drivers of optimism. Kieran Fitzgerald, Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa at Bord Bia, said: 'Irish food and drink companies continue to see the Middle East and Africa as high-potential markets. 'The scale of export performance in 2024, paired with strong sentiment from exporters, highlights Ireland's growing reputation as a provider of trusted, high-quality food and drink solutions for the region.' A major contributor to this growth is Ornua, Ireland's largest dairy exporter, which continues to expand its presence in the region. David Butler, Managing Director, Ornua Ingredients International, said: 'The Middle East continues to represent a key growth market for Ornua, with rising demand for high-quality, innovative dairy solutions across the region. 'Our investment in Saudi Arabia underlines our long-term commitment to the region, enabling us to strengthen local partnerships, respond more quickly to customer needs, and deliver market-specific solutions. 'With its strategic location and strong trade ties, Saudi provides an ideal base from which to support our customers and expand our presence across the wider MENA market.'
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Andrew Muir hits out at pollution plan 'misinformation'
Stormont's agriculture minister has hit out at what he has called "misinformation" over his department's plans to reduce water pollution which have faced criticism from some in the agri-food Ireland's long-overdue Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026-29 was published for consultation last month. Many of the proposals are linked to the Lough Neagh Action Plan. Unionist parties and farming unions have argued the plans are out of touch with the reality of on Tuesday, Andrew Muir said they were draft proposals with final decisions yet to be taken. 'Vile homophobic comments' Speaking in the Assembly the minister also criticised as "disgraceful" recent commentary on social media about the issue."I have seen misogynistic comments against officials in my department, there have been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working in our agri-food sector."Not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man and I am proud to be a gay man and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job." 'Utterly disgusting' The minister went on to say: "Some of the comments made towards me - I'm thick enough to be able to take that, it was shocking and I have not seen something like that since the 1990s, but some of the comments for example in terms of foreign nationals working in agri-food, I just thought that was beneath contempt and I think it's important we call this out here."We can have a rational discussion around these things but we should not descend into that, and some of the comments against officials are wrong."The leader of the Opposition, SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole said it was "utterly disgusting" and the minister had the opposition's support in calling it out, while the DUP's Gary Middleton said the social media comments against the minister and his officials were unacceptable.
Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Times
UK food producers have wasted millions on delayed post-Brexit checks
British food and flower producers have wasted millions of pounds in preparing for post-Brexit import checks that now may never be introduced, industry leaders have warned. The sector had been working toward a July 2025 deadline for the introduction of full sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls on agri-food imports from the European Union. However, a sudden shift in government policy, tied to the UK-EU 'reset' and new trade talks, means the vast majority of those checks have been delayed. The Fresh Produce Consortium, which represents suppliers of fruit, vegetables and flowers, said the delays undermined business confidence and left companies in limbo. 'The industry cannot prepare because it doesn't have adequate information on time and has no confidence in the UK government because they say one thing and do another,' Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the consortium, said.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
UK-EU deal long overdue, says garden centre owner
The new agri-food deal with the EU will mean the reversal of a ban on British- grown plants being sold in Northern common varieties have been prohibited since 2021 under the terms of Northern Ireland's original Brexit deal meant Northern Ireland continued to follow the EU's strict rules on plant health while the rest of the UK had its own the new deal the UK as a whole will realign with EU plant health rules, which will mean the ban can be dropped. Robin Mercer, from Hillmount Garden Centre in County Down, said the deal was "long overdue" as the current arrangements had driven up costs."In the past before Brexit we were bringing in trolley loads of roses every week, now we're having to source them from different places and there isn't the same selection," he said."There's a lot of suppliers in England that won't work with us now because it's too much hassle, too much paperwork." The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) said the deal would help the industry across the UK, which has seen trade with European suppliers Grant, chair of the HTA's retailer committee, said: "Garden centres and their customers have seen prices rise and choice reduced as a direct result the trade barriers we now have with European suppliers."We know of many retailers who report that inspection delays have led to damaged, unsalable stock, as well as staffing issues around ever-shifting delivery times, all of which add costs to garden centres across the UK."Lifting trade barriers should boost our range of plants and products and how quickly we can get them."The deal should also mean GB retailers resume online sales of plants and seeds to Northern Ireland. Customs declarations However the changes will not be implemented anytime soon and for NI businesses and consumers will not remove all the barriers which went up in deal is described as a "political declaration" which now has to be converted to a legally binding will take months to negotiate and it is unlikely it will move to implementation before next the meantime some requirements which the last government signed up to in 2023 Windsor Framework deal will continue to be example a new phase of "Not for EU" labelling on GB food products being sold in NI will go ahead in is despite the fact that labelling with ultimately be phased out as a result of the new commercial goods being sold from GB to NI will also continue to require customs declarations, even the products which as covered by Monday's deal. Stuart Anderson, director of public affairs at Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said he remained concerned about the customs burden for movement between GB and NI."The customs issues have been in play since the original deal was introduced," he said."There has been some movement on that though the Windsor Framework – some of it creating perhaps more challenges too with the introduction of parcel arrangements from May."However he said the new deal was "hugely positive news" on the face of added that businesses in Northern Ireland had "carried a significant amount of the burden in getting us to today". What's in the new UK/EU deal? Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the wide-ranging agreement affecting food, fishing and security after hosting EU leaders at a summit in London. It includes a new SPS agreement - which stands for sanitary and phytosanitary and refers to rules about animals and government said this would reduce red tape for businesses, simplify food exports and imports, and help cut lorry queues at borders. The deal also includes a new security and defence partnership between the UK and EU, and new arrangements for passport checks. British holidaymakers will soon be able to use more eGates in Europe, which the government said would "end the dreaded queues" at border Keir said the deal would be "good for jobs, good for bills and good for our borders".However, critics accused the Labour government of betraying Brexit voters as the UK will have to follow EU agri-food rules without having a say in how those rules are are also concerns about a 12-year fishing deal granting the EU access to UK waters, which is included as part of the overall agreement. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the UK was "becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again". But the Labour government said it was time to "reset" relations with the EU which is the UK's biggest market. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK's agricultural food exports were down by a fifth, and the new deal would reduce trade friction and costs.
