Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
Senator for Roscommon-Galway Aisling Dolan is to host an information seminar for farmers with Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety, and New Market Development on Tuesday 26th January 2021 at 7pm.
The event which will take place on Zoom will focus on a number of topics which will be of interest to the farming community, to include farm safety, the Accelerated Capital Allowance, the extension of the certain farm schemes for 2021 and Brexit. A key focus of the event will be on farm safety and will provide advice for the farming community.
Senator Dolan is encouraging those in the farming community to attend and log on via zoom for the one hour webinar. “Minister Martin Heydon has also launched two new programmes on farm safety and this webinar will provide essential information in relation to those. We are now in slurry season and activity has really ramped up on the farm in the past week with lambing and farmers are also coping with young children studying from home and wanting to help Mam or Dad in the farmyards. This can increase a lot of risks with farm machinery when it comes to safety in such a busy time.
For example, farmers can avail of a 50% reduction in costs to purchase farm safety equipment under the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) over the next two years.”
She continued: “Secondly, the application deadline for the EIP – European Innovation Programme in farm safety is the 29th January 2021 and I’ve invited Minister Heydon to a public information zoom meeting with farmers where he will speak about this. Everyone is welcome and the online details are available on my page at aislingdolan.org. Farming families can join in online at www.zoom.com with the meeting ID or by phone and dial 01 536 9320 with the meeting ID Meeting ID: 813 1182 4751 and you can also find those details on my website aislingdolan.org. I want to thank Minister Heydon for his participation and giving crucial updates from the Dept of Agriculture”
Minister Heydon, a native of Kilcullen in South Kildare, acknowledged the importance of farm safety noting ‘ The level of safety incidents we are on farms is a major concern, and I am working to put safety at the heart of everything we do on our farms. The ACA scheme and EIP call are part of a range of initiatives to help farmers to make their farms more safe both for them and their families. With Teagasc and the Health Safety Authority we have useful guidelines on farm health and safety.
My current portfolio also includes responsibility for New Market Development. This involves working closely with Bord Bia and officials in my Department to deliver new opportunities for Irish agri-food exports particularly in this challenging time of Covid-19 and Brexit. Ireland’s proposed initial allocation under the new Brexit Adjustment Reserve is a real boost, with over €1 billion, or 25% of the first tranche of the fund. This shows just how significant the impact of Brexit will be for Ireland, particularly our agrifood sector. I look forward giving an update to farmers in the West with Senator Dolan at the webinar next week’
