Francess McDonnell

3 weeks ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

Social isolation is “a major concern in agricultural communities” and a “national loneliness strategy” is now urgently needed, members of the Seanad have heard. The issue of loneliness was raised in the Seanad following a briefing by Samaritans Ireland to Oireachtas members. According to Samaritans Ireland, one of its team answers a call for help to its 24-hour telephone service “almost every minute”.

3 weeks ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

Local authorities have paid out more than €11 million to date in Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) payments to Revenue, according to new figures provided to Independent senator, Victor Boyhan. RZLT applies to land that is included on an annually revised map published by a local authority and that is not a residential property. The self-assessed annual tax is based on the valuation of a relevant site and is calculated at 3% of the market value of the relevant site.

3 weeks ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

An “excellent performance” by hotels helped drive pre-tax profits at Farmer Business Developments plc last year to €36.36 million, up from €25.04 million in 2023 according to its latest annual report. Pat Murphy, chair of the plc, which is an investment holding company, said it was “in good shape and has demonstrated its ability to withstand challenges and grow revenues with excellent group results for 2024”.

3 weeks ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) received a total of 46 complaints in 2024 – a 17% decrease on the previous year. But according to the VCI’s Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC) Report 2024 out of the 46 complaints received by the PIC in 2024, 29 were about a single veterinary practitioner. The VCI is the statutory body with responsibility for regulating the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing.

3 weeks ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is “not ruling out legal action” in relation to new proposals contained in Northern Ireland’s Nutrient Action Programme (NAP). The Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, launched a public consultation on the NAP for 2026 to 2029, last month, which he said contains “additional measures which have been developed based on scientific research”.