Champion of diplomacy ahead of Croker clash
After his proud wearing of a tie in the Mayo colours at last Sunday’s All-Ireland football final, some people looked for clues as to his likely team preference for the Cork and Clare clash.
None were detected as he wore a red tie (Cork) and a light blue shirt (Clare), a neutral diplomatic choice that would have done justice to any protocol adviser.
Out on the track-ways, there was a touch of Saint Patrick’s Day in New York, with everybody claiming to be from rural Ireland.
It was the third and final day of what was widely hailed as the most successful championships for many years.
Minister of State Tom Hayes said the use of forest-based fuels for energy production and heat continues to grow, He said it now accounts for over one million cubic metres annually — over one-third of the total wood harvest.
“We estimate that in 2012 the firewood market alone was worth over €33m, with a lot of the supply now coming from the first thinning of farmer-owned forest plantations,” he said.
Mr Hayes said it is important that wood fuels that come on the market are fit for purpose and are well prepared and presented.
He was speaking at the presentation of certificates to a number of companies newly certified under the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme, which is run by the Irish Bioenergy Association — IrBEA.
Earlier, Fianna Fáil agriculture and food spokesman Éamon Ó Cuív was in the press centre to outline the party’s policy that Coillte should remain as a separate state-owned commercial company.
One of the proposals in the party discussion document which he launched calls for Nama lands to be considered for afforestation where economically viable.
Mr Ó Cuív said Coillte should co-operate with Bord na Móna in developing renewable energy solutions. But it should remain as an independent entity, recognising the fact that both companies have significantly different core business activities, he said.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, with party spokesman Martin Ferris, arrived afterwards to launch their Standing Up for Rural Ireland policy document.
It included the results of an extensive survey carried out among visitors to the ploughing championships.
Among the striking figures from the survey is that over 50% of respondents had a family member who had emigrated in the past year.
In a foreword, Mr Adams said most Irish citizens can trace their roots to rural Ireland: “While my family has lived in Belfast for generations, my roots are in counties Down, Leitrim and Donegal. Like many others, my family moved to the city in search of employment and better opportunities.”
Farm families have been urged by the IFA to vote yes in the Court of Appeal referendum.
IFA president John Bryan, at the ploughing championships, said the proposed Court of Appeal is necessary to improve the administration of justice and save both personal and financial stress for people involved in appeals and subject to intolerable delays.
“The Government must also press ahead with further reforms to make the courts system more efficient, make access to the courts less costly and bring down legal costs generally,” he said.
Mr Bryan said a new Court of Appeal is required to hear most of the appeals heard by the Supreme Court, where there is now a backlog of over 660 cases, with delays estimated at from four to six years.
The new court would be positioned between the High Court and the Supreme Court and its job would be to ensure appeals are heard within a matter of months.
“This is essential to get a speedy resolution of disputes, which in turn reduces the personal stress and legal costs on litigants and improves the environment for doing business,” he said.
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