Joe Mag Raollaigh

Political Coverage Editor

A bale of briquettes will rise in price by 20c (File image)

Consumers to pay more for fuels as carbon tax increases

The rate of carbon tax will increase today with consumers of carbon fuels set to pay more for such products.

Ireland • 01 May 24

Farmers, gardeners and those maintaining sporting facilities have been urged to use alternatives to pesticides (stock image)

Appeal to reduce pesticide use to protect water supplies

Uisce Éireann detected 52 cases of pesticides that exceeded allowable amounts in drinking water last year.

Environment • 26 Apr 24

The Marine Institute's headquarters in Co Galway now has 783 solar panels on its roof

Solar panels installed at Marine Institute's headquarters

The Marine Institute has taken a significant step in delivering its climate action roadmap following the installation of solar panels at its headquarters in Co Galway.

Connacht • 26 Apr 24

The potato harvest was impacted by the bad weather late last year

Cereal and potato yields fell in 2023 - CSO

Production yields of main cereal crops in Ireland fell 21% in 2023 compared with the previous year.

Regional • 25 Apr 24

Last year, Coillte paid the state a dividend of nearly €18m, comprised of €7.7m for 2022 and €10m for 2023 (File image)

Coillte reports operating profit of €61m last year

Coillte had earnings of €106m in 2023 and an operating profit of €61m, according to the semi-state forestry company's annual report.

Ireland • 25 Apr 24

Coillte had proposed a 343-hectare forest and bogland rehabilitation project in the Inagh Valley (pic: RollingNews.ie)

Coillte will not appeal refusal for peatland project

Coillte, the semi-state forestry company, has decided not to appeal the recent planning refusal for its proposed peatland rehabilitation project in Doire Chláir, Co na Gaillimhe.

Regional • 24 Apr 24

A number of units of Carlow Fire Service battled five significant gorse fires for nine hours on the Blackstairs Mountains (Credit: Alan O Reilly Carlow Weather)

Fires set in mountainous areas 'unacceptable' - minister

Minister of State with Responsibility for Nature and Heritage Malcolm Noonan has described the setting of fires in recent days in mountainous areas as "appalling and unacceptable illegal behaviour".

Leinster • 24 Apr 24

An aerial view of the Carbery production facility at Ballineen in West Cork

Turnover and profits drop at Carbery Group

Carbery Group, the West Cork-based international ingredients, flavours, and a cheese producer, has reported a drop in group turnover and operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Business • 24 Apr 24

The EFSA concluded there is a low risk to consumer health from the estimated exposure to pesticide residues in the foods tested

Low risk to health from pesticide exposure in food - EFSA

New data on the presence of pesticide residues in food in Ireland shows 96% of samples analysed were residue free or had residue traces within legally permitted levels.

Agribusiness • 23 Apr 24

The average price of good land in Ireland in 2023 was €12,308 per acre

Double-digit growth in price of farmland in 2023 - report

The most expensive average price for farmland in the country last year was in Co Waterford, where the best quality land cost €20,000 per acre, a new report has shown.

Ireland • 23 Apr 24