Kenny beefs up optimistic message to party

China has finally lifted its ban on Irish beef imports, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced at the opening session of Fine Gael’s national conference.

Heavy security blanketed the venue for the gathering in Mr Kenny’s home town of Castlebar as organisers of an anti-water charge protest promised to bring 1,000 demonstrators onto the streets today.

Mr Kenny delivered an upbeat message to delegates after a year when Fine Gael was badly shaken by a string of misjudgements.

He said the lifting of the BSE-related beef ban was a sign of close ties with the Chinese economic super-power, which would benefit jobs growth. “We have now reached agreement with China on lifting the ban on Irish beef,” he said.

“This is a fantastic breakthrough for the Irish farming and food industry. China, with its 1.35bn people, is the biggest individual market in the world. While China has formally lifted its ban on Irish beef, the next step will require a Chinese veterinary inspection to approve individual processing plants for export,” Mr Kenny said.

“Nevertheless, we should take pride in the fact that Ireland is the only European country to make this significant breakthrough in both the US and Chinese markets.”

The Taoiseach told delegates that the EU deal with Greece was a ‘relief’ for everybody.

Mr Kenny said the Rural Development Programme would run until 2020, pushing some €4bn of investment into farming.

He insisted the Government was committed to keeping rural schools open, despite concern that many are in danger.

‘The policy review of small schools, commissioned by the Fianna Fáil-led government, called for small schools to be closed.

“No small school will close under this approach unless a patron and community decide so. Fine Gael firmly believes small schools play a key role in the social fabric of rural communities, especially in isolated locations, and importantly, offer parental choice in the education of our children.

“By improving teacher retention threshold, the Government is helping sustain small schools in the future.”