The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Farmers are outraged at behaviour of meat factories’
FARMERS throughout the country are outraged at the behaviour of the meat factories in how they are controlling and reducing the price of beef at will, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae told Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
“Farmers are coming together to see what can be done to protect their incomes,” he said. “I appeal to the Taoiseach to do something about these factories. They have a monopoly and are determining what farmers get. Farmers are not being paid properly for their produce and their incomes are suffering as a result. Farmers are talking about the food on their tables because soon they will be unable to survive with the current regime. Will the Taoiseach do something about it or not?”
In reply, the Taoiseach said he was not sure it was correct to say that there is a monopoly. “The Competition and Con- sumer Protection Commission has examined allegations of a monopoly operating among the beef factories,” he said. “I appreciate that farmers want a decent price for the work they do, but at the same time factories need to make a profit, and we also must ensure that consumers pay a reasonable price for their food.”
He said Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed has established a beef forum which allows him to engage with all parts of the sector and to make progress through that. “In addition, the Deputy will be aware of the announcement in the Budget of a new scheme to support beef farmers. He will be hearing more about that in the next few weeks.”
Call for action on waste plastic
DETAILS on Government plans to clean up the waters around the Irish coastline, the Atlantic ocean and the Irish Sea were sought in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil Deputy John Brassil.
He referred to a recent newspaper report on a whale that was washed up in Asian waters. “I argue that the contents of its stomach could be found inside any large sea animal washed up in Irish waters,” he said. “They included 115 plastic cups, two flip-flops, 13 lbs of trash, four plastic bottles, 25 plastic bags and more than 1,000 other items.”
In reply the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton said, in total, the European Union releases about 200,000 tonnes of plastics into the oceans. “There is a serious problem throughout the Union which has decided in principle that it will introduce a ban on the use of single-use plastics, which will I hope become enforceable early in the new year,” he said.
“Obviously, the directive has to be finalised, but it will give us the potential to introduce similar bans. On microbeads, as the Deputy knows, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has the approval of the Government to introduce a Bill which it is hoped will be passed before the end of the year.
“On a wider front, we are seeking to dramatically increase our recovery and recycling of plastics and reduce the use of packaging.
“We will publish targets to deliver these outcomes.”
Concern at ongoing closure of Kerry post offices
THE ongoing closure of post offices in Kerry was raised with the Taoiseach by Deputies Danny and Michael Healy-Rae.
Deputy Danny Healy Rae said the post office in Knocknagoshel has got no reprieve and will not be re-tendered. “The people of the village will have to travel to Abbeyfeale in County Limerick,” he said. “That is what they have been told. Likewise, the post office in Gneeveguilla is being closed and the people of the village will have to travel to Rathmore.”
Deputy Michael Healy-Rae said, as part of the programme for Government, there is a crystal-clear commitment to maintaining our post office network. “It is true that in Dromod and Mastergeehy the talk was of another post office facing closure,” he said. “A total of 80 post offices face closure by the end of January, and another 231 post offices are lined up for closure after that.”
In response, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton said An Postis a commercial State body, and it has been under very severe financial pressure in recent years. “It has had to take steps, including increasing the prices of stamps, among other things, to ensure that it can continue to deliver a service,” he said.
“It has negotiated a settlement with the postmasters whereby some post offices will voluntarily close. It has also developed a protocol under which it has given assurances that there will be a maximum distance that people will have to travel. It is ensuring that pledge is honoured in the context of any closures that occur. It also seeks to ensure that, where other commercial outlets wish to continue to provide the service, there will be an opportunity to do so.”
Enhanced co-operation between North and South soccer teams
THE idea of having one All-Ireland soccer team is one for the national governing bodies – the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Association – not the Government, Minister of State for Sport Brendan Griffin told the Dáil.
Replying to Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, he said that there has been enhanced co-operation between both football associations in recent years, which was evident recently in the context of the international game held and at the Co-operation Ireland event which was held in the Mansion House. “This co-operation is positive and encouraging,” he added.
He took the opportunity to congratulate and thank Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane for the service they provided over the last number of years. “While recent results have been disappointing, it is important to acknowledge that a number of players were injured and unable to play in the last few games,” he added.