A trade union representing workers at Coillte has claimed its proposed merger with Bord na Móna would leave the State forest company considerably weakened, with the potential loss of 100 jobs.

Farmers and food and drink firms have called on the Government to urgently introduce a statutory code of practice for the grocery sector as “a matter of urgency.”

The Department of Agriculture is building an investigation with the help of gardaí into the origin of horsemeat in Irish burgers with the anticipation of future legal and compensation cases.

EU moves to re-write provisions for mandatory milk contracts and milk producer organisations, which could remove derogations and exemptions for co-operatives, have been condemned by Irish Dairy Industries Association director Michael Barry.

THE Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture has called for the controversial Climate Change Bill to be put on hold.

THE Irish National Stud is set to post a deficit of €4 million for 2009. New chief executive of the semi-state company John Osbourne said after a loss of €2.4m in 2008, even the benefits of multi-million euro windfall deals in recent years, and a €9.9m profit in 2007, had been wiped out.

THE Irish National Stud (INS) has conceded it must tighten up rules on the conduct of its key personnel in inside deals involving its stallions.

FORMER Marine Minister Frank Fahey insisted he was “never dishonest” and has no regrets over his handling of a scheme to compensate fishermen for lost vessels which the opposition said was “rigged” to suit his constituents.

OMBUDSMAN Emily O’Reilly is to appear before an Oireachtas committee later this month to discuss her clash with the Department of Agriculture over a compensation proposal to a family whose loved ones were lost at sea.

BEEF markets remain under pressure but a tightening supply and more stable demand in Europe offer the prospect of some improvement as the year progresses, according to Bord Bia’s director of meat Gerard Brickley.

The Ombudsman has launched an attack on Ireland's politicians, saying "poor governance in key institutions" is at the heart of our economic downturn.

THE proposed electronic tagging of sheep will inflict serious economic and unnecessary damage on the industry in Ireland, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) warned yesterday.

The consequences of An Bord Snip Nua's recommendations on how to save money in the agriculture sector will be discussed today.

FORESTRY has major potential in assisting economic recovery and creating jobs in the future.

THE pig feed factory at the centre of December’s dioxin scare was not inspected by the local council since it got its operating licence in 2005.

AN AGREEMENT between the National Roads Authority and the Irish Farmers Association that promised farmers would be paid promptly for any land purchased for road building needs to be reviewed.