The Minister of State with special responsibility for Fisheries at the Department of Agriculture , Fisheries and Food , John Browne TD , has invited members of the public to submit their views for consideration in drafting of business plans for the six Fishery Harbour Centres in Killybegs , Ros an Mhil , Castletownbere , Dunmore East , An Daingean and Howth.

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with special responsibility for forestry, Mary Wallace TD , has today announced the commencement of payments under the National Energy Premium Scheme. These payments will be initially paid out to 437 farmers and are worth approximately € 341 , 000.

IFA President Padraig Walshe said the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan has no option but to insist that the EU Commission impose an immediate ban on Brazilian beef imports. The IFA President has requested an urgent meeting with the Minister for Agriculture to discuss the staggering contents of the latest FVO report on the failure of Brazil to meet EU standards and food safety controls. Farm leaders and MEPs in the UK have also stepped up their calls for an import ban on Brazilian beef, following the new report on animal health controls by the EU's Food and Veterinary Office.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep farmers Association ( ICSA ) has slammed Minister for Agriculture , Mary Coughlan for closing off funding for the Farm Improvement Scheme ( FIS ). ICSA president Malcolm Thompson told Farming Pages that ceasing funding at this stage to farmers who have yet to complete their building work amounts to a lack of commitment to progress in Irish agriculture. " The Minister made this funding available to farmers in order that progressive farmers could develop their farms. "