Clare Fianna Fail T.D. and Minister Tony Killeen has welcomed the decision by the Chinese Government to reopen its market to Irish pigmeat imports.

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Clare T.D. and Minister Tony Killeen is reminding Clare farmers that the closing date for applications to the 2010 Single Payment Scheme is Monday May 17 next.

Minister Killeen said that farmers could for the first time register their applications online using the Department of Agriculture’s online application facility, SPS iNet.  He added that the facility provided for applications to be lodged by individual farmers or their nominated approved Agents.

He continued: “I am pleased to see that the momentum is being maintained as regards iNET, particularly given the attractiveness of the system to Single Payment applicants. In the course of only three years, the level of on-line applications has risen dramatically, from 7,500 in 2007 to 35,000 in 2009. This is further clear evidence of the ongoing very strong commitment of the Department to maximising new technology, to the clear benefit of farmers”.

Minister Killeen noted that those who submit their applications on-line are much more likely to have their applications cleared for payment more quickly, because of this aspect of the on-line system.

“Analysis of the issues which delay processing of applications shows that a very high percentage are delayed because of basic errors or omissions on the part of the applicant. However, it has been possible to construct the on-line facility with a series of compulsory fields and built-in validations, which dramatically reduces the level of these types of error, simply by refusing to allow the applicant to make the error in the first instance. Unfortunately, such an option is not available with the traditional paper application”, he added.

Minister Killeen confirmed that in addition to the almost 25,000 farmers who are registered with the Department to use the on-line facility, a similar number have also availed of the option to have an approved designated Agent lodge their application via the on-line system on their behalf.

The closing date for receipt of applications under the 2010 Schemes is 17 May 2010, regardless of whether applications are submitted on-line or the traditional paper application.   New entrants are advised to contact any of the Department’s Offices, or to consult the Department’s website.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media ( @ ) dunphypr dot com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available to download from www.dunphypr.com

Clare Fianna Fail T.D. and Minister Tony Killeen says he has received confirmation from the Department of Agriculture that farmers who are part of the Burren LIFE Project may submit applications to the new €50 million agri-environment options scheme.

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Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., has confirmed that County Clare is to receive the third highest payment of annual forestry premiums being allocated nationally under a package announced by Government today.

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Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has confirmed that Clare farmers affected by the fall in milk prices have started to receive payments under the European Union’s (EU) Dairy Compensation Fund.

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Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D., Tony Killeen has confirmed plans by the Department of Agriculture to allocate the second of five annual increases of one per cent in milk quotas agreed under the so-called “health check” of the CAP reform.

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The development of a long-term strategy for the agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors will place the industries at the forefront of the country’s export-led economic recovery.

That is according to Junior Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., who was speaking following the appointment of a Committee to lead the process and has also established a web-based public consultation process. The 2020 Strategy Committee, chaired by Dr Sean Brady, is broadly based and possesses a wide range of skills and experience.  It is drawn from senior experts and participants in all aspects of the sector.

According to Minister of State Killeen: “The Committee has been tasked with drafting a short, sharp document which sets out the key strategies required for the future development of the sector.  I believe that the very high calibre of the committee members will ensure that the output from this exercise will be both bold and practical and will set a clear path forward for the sector.  The Committee has been asked to report by June 1st next”.

The Clare Fianna Fail T.D. noted that the agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors were hugely important to the Irish economy and society as a source of jobs, exports and regional development.  He expressed his belief that the sector could contribute significantly to Ireland’s economic recovery and provide long-term growth into the future.

Minister of State Killeen said that in order to facilitate and target consideration of key issues, a series of discussion and background papers had been prepared.

He continued: “These papers, which may be viewed on the Department website www.agriculture.gov.ie, outline the current situation and challenges facing the sector but equally importantly, pose a series of questions, the answers to which will form the core of our future strategy.  Relevant stakeholders are invited to submit their views on how best to deal with some of the critical issues arising from these discussion papers”.

Details on how to make submissions are given at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/2020Strategy.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
-    High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
-    For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900

Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has reminded Clare farmers that they should start thinking about whether they need a nitrates derogation for the current year.

The local Deputy said farmers who intend to apply for a derogation must have a fertiliser plan on the farm by 1st March, submit a copy of the fertiliser plan with the application unless an approved REPS 4 plan is in place, apply to the Department for a derogation by the closing date of Wednesday 31st March, and have all their land soil tested at least once every four years.

He noted that the Department is in the process of issuing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Statements for 2009 to the more intensive farmers, which will assist with their decision regarding whether they need a derogation in 2010.

“Intensive grassland farmers are allowed to exceed the general limit of 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year on their farm, up to a limit of 250 kg, provided that they have a derogation in place. Reps 4 participants will also receive a statement regardless of their livestock manure application, as it is a requirement in REPS 4 that the nitrogen and phosphorus details are recorded in their REPS record sheets”, added Minister of State Killeen.

Details of the derogation process are available on the Department website www.agriculture.ie. Applications forms may also be obtained from the local District Veterinary Office or from the Department’s Nitrates Section, Johnstown Castle, Wexford.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
-    High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
-    For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen has reminded Clare farmers seeking payments under the Suckler Welfare Scheme to complete and return their applications without delay.

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Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen T.D. said this week that the Suckler Welfare Scheme will continue in 2010 at the rate of 40 euro per animal and that payment will issue early in the New Year in respect of the 2009 Scheme year.

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Junior Agriculture Minister, Tony Killeen, T.D., has reminded Clare REPS 3 participants whose anniversaries arise in November and December and who have yet to return their 1C forms to do so immediately to ensure that they are processed for early payment.

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Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen has confirmed that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has completed an in-depth review of the Crop Variety Evaluation programme.

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Mr Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, today launched the Wood Marketing Federation ‘Woodspace’ exhibition at the ‘Plan Expo-Eco Build’ Show in the RDS in Dublin.

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Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen T.D. has urged all Clare farmers to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of livestock being affected by liver fluke.

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Mr. Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, presented the 2009 RDS/Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards at a ceremony held in Kilkenny Castle last night.

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Mr. Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has warmly welcomed the award of the Farmers’ Markets Good Practice Standard to two County Clare markets in the first round of applications.

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Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, this week said the development of export markets was critically important to the success of the Irish pig sector.

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Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, today confirmed that advance payments of 70 per cent in the Single Payment Scheme worth almost EUR31.5 million have commenced to County Clare farmers.

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Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has reminded farmers that applications for additional funding under the Early Retirement Scheme must be submitted by the end of the month.

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Minister of State and Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Tony Killeen has confirmed that the Department of Agriculture met with Irish banks at the weekend to encourage Irish banks to extend normal working capital facilities to farmers.

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Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food today formally opened the Federation of Irish Fishermen’s (FIF) review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) seminar at the Radisson Hotel, Dublin Airport.

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Junior Agriculture Minister and Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Mr. Tony Killeen has welcomed the announcement by his colleague and Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith regarding the establishment of a consultative group to advise on medium and long term measures for the dairy sector.

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The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Tony Killeen TD, has announced that based on estimated milk deliveries as submitted by milk purchasers for the period up to 31st August 2009, Ireland is 9.00% under quota when account is taken of the butterfat content of milk deliveries during the same period.

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Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., has welcomed a commitment by the European Commission to take further emergency action in the event of market volatility in the milk sector.

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Junior Agriculture Minister and Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Tony Killeen has welcomed the decision of the European Union’s Agriculture Ministers to meet on October 5th next to discuss the introduction of additional measures to support and stimulate the dairy sector.

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