Bernie Commins

Bernie Commins Profile Picture

Senior News Journalist

Bernie Commins has an honours degree in journalism from Dublin Institute of Technology. She previously worked in the world of agri media as editor of several industry publications and as a journalist she has covered a variety of topics from farm safety to rural-life matters. She also has a background in regional newspaper reporting. From south Tipperary originally, she spent her formative years on her uncle’s dairy farm.

FSAI appoints environmental health specialist

Agri-Business

FSAI appoints environmental health specialist

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has appointed a new chief specialist in environmental health. Rob Philips will take...
Live sheep imports reach almost 370k in 2021

Rural Life

Live sheep imports reach almost 370k in 2021

Almost 370,000 sheep were imported to Ireland in 2021, with the vast majority of those coming from Northern Ireland, according...
FSAI issues further recall of two cheese products

Agri-Business

FSAI issues further recall of two cheese products

A further recall has been issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on a batch of The Little...
Food ombudsman will be an office with ‘real teeth’ – minister

Agri Politics

Food ombudsman will be an office with ‘real teeth’ – minister

Calls for a food regulator/ombudsman were made by numerous delegates at the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) annual general meeting (AGM)....
‘We are at a crossroads for Irish farming and forestry’ – Taoiseach

Environment

‘We are at a crossroads for Irish farming and forestry’ – Taoiseach

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin told the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) today (Thursday, January 27)...
Committees to be set up to implement Food Vision for dairy, beef and sheep

Agri Politics

Committees to be set up to implement Food Vision for dairy, beef and sheep

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue will, in the coming days, establish a number of stakeholder committees...
‘Our emissions come from food production and must be treated differently’ – IFA AGM

Agri-Business

‘Our emissions come from food production and must be treated differently’ – IFA AGM

“While our ceiling may be lower than other sectors, it will be extremely challenging,” said president of the Irish Farmers’...
Research project aims to improve poultry welfare without antibiotic reliance

Pig/Poultry

Research project aims to improve poultry welfare without antibiotic reliance

A biotechnology firm has been awarded a research grant worth more than £500,000 – as part of an industrial consortium...
Switching to bioliquids could reduce household emissions – report

Environment

Switching to bioliquids could reduce household emissions – report

New research has demonstrated that liquid heating fuels could help to dramatically reduce emissions in Ireland’s home-heating sector, according to...
Vets accompany Irish livestock exports twice over two years

Agri-Business

Vets accompany Irish livestock exports twice over two years

One out of 10 vessels carrying livestock that departed Ireland in 2020 had a veterinary inspector present, and one out...
Farmers ‘will be growing grass to have it eaten by deer’ – Kerry TD

biodiversity

Farmers ‘will be growing grass to have it eaten by deer’ – Kerry TD

Kerry TD, Michael Healy-Rae has said that 500 deer per week would need to be culled in Kerry, in the...
IFA seeks assurances around collection and use of farmer data

Agri-Business

IFA seeks assurances around collection and use of farmer data

Any situation where farmers are asked to share data with a farming or environmental agency must be considered very carefully,...
Poultry protest: ‘The supplier receives the contracted price’ – Lidl responds

Agri-Business

Poultry protest: ‘The supplier receives the contracted price’ – Lidl responds

In response to protests at two of its premises – spurred on by a cut-price chicken promotion – Lidl has...
‘We cannot survive on fresh air’ – poultry farmers to stage 24-hour protest

Agri-Business

‘We cannot survive on fresh air’ – poultry farmers to stage 24-hour protest

“We are looking for a 15c increase per chicken and a 2c increase for eggs – that is hardly an...
Farmers’ public-access concerns must be addressed -INHFA

Agri-Business

Farmers’ public-access concerns must be addressed -INHFA

Major concerns around the issues of public access and hillwalking, if not addressed, will lead to “difficult times ahead” for...
Just 10 minutes of science strengthens support for climate action

Environment

Just 10 minutes of science strengthens support for climate action

Public support for action on climate change is strengthened by just 10 minutes of exposure to the basic science, according...
Milk recording – a farmer’s best friend in a new era of restricted antibiotics

Agri-Business

Milk recording – a farmer’s best friend in a new era of restricted antibiotics

As the introduction of a new EU-wide veterinary medicine regulation gets closer, assistant CellCheck programme manager from Animal Health Ireland...
DAFM announces €35m to support coastal communities

Agri-Business

DAFM announces €35m to support coastal communities

A new €35 million scheme to rejuvenate local-authority public piers and harbours throughout coastal communities has been announced by Minister...