Aengus Cox

Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Ringfenced EU funding for farming cut by 22% under plans

Ringfenced EU funding for farming would be cut by more than a fifth, while the Common Agricultural Policy fund would be merged together with rural financial supports, under proposals from the European Commission for the bloc's next budget.

Europe • 16 Jul

Conservation scheme sees nine curlew released into wild

A group of nine curlew, a bird species that has seen most of its population lost in Ireland since the 1980s, has been reintroduced to the wild on Lough Ree near Athlone as a part of a conservation project.

Environment • 15 Jul

Low angle close up colour image depicting a man holding a shopping basked filled with fresh groceries

Sharp rise in food and drink prices over past year

There has been a sharp rise in the prices of a number of food and drink products over the past year, according to latest inflation figures from the Central Statistics Office.

Business • 14 Jul

Consumers warned to stop using certain Tower air fryers

Consumers are being warned to stop using certain models of Tower air fryers following a recall from the company.

Business • 10 Jul

Jim Gildea and Ciaran Foley stand at a bin at the launch of a new Re-turn initiative in Dun Laoghaire

Re-turn to roll out bin surrounds programme to more towns

A scheme whereby surrounds are added to public bins to allow people to more easily retrieve discarded drink containers is being expanded around the country.

Business • 10 Jul

16.7% personal injury award increase will not go ahead

A controversial proposed 16.7% increase in personal injury awards will not go ahead.

Ireland • 09 Jul

The average Irish mortgage rate for May was 3.66%, down slightly on the April rate of 3.72%, new Central Bank figures show

Mortgage interest rates fall to over two year low in May

Irish mortgage interest rates fell to their lowest rate in over two years in May, according to new figures from the Central Bank.

Business • 09 Jul

Agricultural entrepreneurial income jumped 73% last year

Higher milk prices, rising livestock and crop values, as well as a fall in the cost of fertiliser, saw agricultural entrepreneurial income increase by 73% last year - from €1.5 billion to €3.5 billion.

Business • 09 Jul

The number of claims handled by the Injuries Resolution Board was up on last year

Avoidable costs worth €76m saved by injuries board

A total of €76 million was saved in "avoided costs" by the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) last year, due to claims not proceeding to litigation.

Ireland • 09 Jul

A herd of Holstein cows grazing on a summer afternoon in Northern Ireland

Govt told to conserve sites to retain nitrates derogation

The European Commission has told the Government that in order for Ireland to retain a nitrates derogation for farmers from next year it must demonstrate efforts to conserve designated sites or species under the EU's Habitats Directive.

Ireland • 07 Jul