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THE INCOME OF the average farm has risen by 27 per cent despite Ireland’s ongoing economic woes, according to new figures.
The Irish Farmers’ Association said increases in food prices had led to a sharp rise in incomes, to an average of €21,500 annually.
IFA chief economist Rowena Dwyer said it was hoped this trend would continue in 2012. Saying the outlook for the year was “fairly positive”, she added: “Indications for international commodity prices suggest a slight easing back from the peaks of 2011, but this should be moderate.”
However, she said that this could not be relied upon as “turmoil” on world markets was making food prices unstable.
“In addition, the lower revised growth forecast for the UK market in late 2011 is a cause for concern as over 40 per cent of agri-food exports go there,” Dwyer added.
The rise in average incomes came despite a parallel increase in the number of farmers taking part in the Farm Assist income support scheme. The number now stands at 11,300, up by 46 per cent since 2008.
Launching the IFA Farm Income Review 2011, Dwyer said the EU’s Single Farm Payment accounts for more than 70 per cent of national farm incomes.
Yesterday, employers’ group Ibec warned that most incomes would be frozen or reduced this year. It said around a quarter of companies planned to increase staff wages by an average of two per cent.
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Travel insurance is a joke, they will try every trick in the book to avoid paying out,
@Philip McLoughlin: yup
I have had flights from both Ryanair and Aer Lingus cancelled recently and both have been responsive and very forthcoming with information. Ryanair are easier to deal with through the app and offered both options to amend or refund without filling any forms. Amending was free even though the listed flight was more expensive on the app. When this flight was cancelled, I opted for a refund and had an email within an hour stating that a refund for the full amount had been made to my card. Aer Lingus need to learn a lesson here. The app does not link to their refunds form which can only be found on the web page and required some time to fill out. However, with the appropriate info, I had a case number emailed to me and 2 flights refunded within hours rather than days.
@Lee Brennan: don’t bother calling them though. You won’t get through and it’s pointless trying. If you leave the ‘contact us’ Aer lingus page up on a browser, the chat help will popup and allow you to speak to an adviser by typing your question. Initially it’s a bot asking for info but quickly I had a real person who answered what I needed.
@Lee Brennan: it’s worth noting that both airlines cancelled their flights unilaterally. I would avoid purchasing tickets to Italy while the DFA travel advice is still in force as your insurance will probably be invalid if you have any. Friends there have indicated that police are actively challenging people out and about at all.
Unbelievable. Just read a story on RTÉ that Simon Harris says “we can expect more cases”. Wonder how he figured that out so fast. The. He says sporting events can go ahead as well as concerts as long as the mandatory signage is in place . Italy’s epidemic started cos some guy was waiting in an emergency waiting room for 3 days waiting to be seen. Just like here. Ireland are only lucky it wasn’t us who had the Italian epidemic. Sheer luck.
@Quentin Tarantino:
1) Wash your hands
2) don’t touch your face
3) stop watching RTE…
@Chaos Ape: I agree with all 3 points, however I Also think we should be cancelling sporting events. Our health system may manage a few cases here and there but not a sudden influx of dozens or hundreds. And as for mandatory signage, well that’s at useful as the signs to stay off the grass in Stephens green.
@Quentin Tarantino: Enough of them traveling back from cheltenham that will bring it no doubt
If you are going to catch CV you might as well do it sooner rather than later because access to treatment should you need it, will be harder to get later. That’s why they haven’t cancelled all events and have kept schools etc open. They want people to get it in a slower more controlled way.
@old england is dead: by not cancelling events, you can pretty much guarantee that you have a sudden influx of cases. Cancel events and close schools and the rate might be slower.
@sue: You are not wrong but that might be too slow & most probably will only drag it on for much longer. They need to keep 2/3 of the economy open for business just to pay some of the bills.
@old england is dead: what if you catch it a second time?
@Frank Jones: good point
And Aer Lingus are running an ad now to say don’t worry we won’t charge you change fees yadda yadda… would you trust them when you see response such as that.. eh no!
The key word here is “ Changes”
had flights booked with Ryan air months ago to fly to Rome this Friday. Obviously I’m not going. But Ryan air are only refunding me my return journey. This is bizarre.
I’m hardly going to fly there and be stranded. Trying to get through to them is a joke even on there chat line. Any one any advice?!
I dont get Aer Lingus offering a refund that is a fraction of the cost. Surely there is something missing here and and they have to offer 100% refund?
@dublindamo: Not being smart, but why do you think that Aer Lingus should suffer 100% of the loss of something that is not their fault? Do you have travel insurance?
have your say