Charles O'Donnell

Charles O

News Journalist

Charles studied History and Politics, and later Journalism, at NUI Galway between 2011 and 2016. He has had stints with the Sunday Business Post and DMG Media Ireland. Charles has a farming background, growing up on a suckler herd farm in east Co. Clare.

Dawn Meats’ Waterford plant to recommence patty production

Agri-Business

Dawn Meats’ Waterford plant to recommence patty production

Dawn Meats’ patty production facility in Carrolls Cross in Co. Waterford will recommence production of beef pattys for McDonald’s outlets...
25% of EU agriculture land to be organically farmed by 2030

Environment

25% of EU agriculture land to be organically farmed by 2030

One-quarter of agricultural land in the EU will be under organic farming by the year 2030, according to the EU’s...
16 meat plants affected by Covid-19 clusters

Beef

16 meat plants affected by Covid-19 clusters

There are now 16 meat plants across the country that have been identified as Covid-19 clusters by the Health Service...
‘Valuable forestry contracts at risk’ from felling licence delays

Forestry

‘Valuable forestry contracts at risk’ from felling licence delays

The delays in progressing felling licences puts Irish companies and forestry owners at risk of losing valuable contracts, according to...
Problems in vacant site levy highlighted after High Court battle

Rural Life

Problems in vacant site levy highlighted after High Court battle

Discrepancies in the application of the vacant site levy, and how its application affects active farmers, have received attention after...
Case IH appoints new vice-president for Europe

Machinery

Case IH appoints new vice-president for Europe

Case IH has appointed a new vice-president for its European operations, as part of a new development strategy by Case...
Meat plants given employees’ Covid-19 test results before workers themselves

Beef

Meat plants given employees’ Covid-19 test results before workers themselves

Management at some meat plants were given the results of their workers’ Covid-19 tests before the workers themselves, Minister of...
Department ‘gives clarification that inspections will not delay payments’ – INHFA

CAP / Schemes

Department ‘gives clarification that inspections will not delay payments’ – INHFA

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has apparently provided “written clarification” to one farming organisation that the farm...
Department narrative on TB eradication ‘a reprimand’ for farmers

Rural Life

Department narrative on TB eradication ‘a reprimand’ for farmers

The “narrative” on the TB Eradication Programme has been described as a “reprimand calculated to whip farmers into submission”. That’s...
€500,000 in Hen Harrier Programme payments this week

Rural Life

€500,000 in Hen Harrier Programme payments this week

Almost €500,000 in payments under the Hen Harrier Programme will be made to qualifying farmers this week. Michael Creed, the...
Meat plants ‘could be directed to close’ in cases of ‘substantial threat’ – HSE

Beef

Meat plants ‘could be directed to close’ in cases of ‘substantial threat’ – HSE

Meat plants could be directed to close their premises and cease business activity if the Health Service Executive (HSE) sees...
Final numbers are in for BPS and BEEP-S applications

Beef

Final numbers are in for BPS and BEEP-S applications

The closing date for applications to the 2020 Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot – Sucklers...
Agricultural show funding can be used in 2021 – Ring

Rural Life

Agricultural show funding can be used in 2021 – Ring

Funding allocated by the Government for agricultural shows can be used in 2021, said Michael Ring, the Minister for Rural...
Latest Covid-19 payment figures by sector revealed

Rural Life

Latest Covid-19 payment figures by sector revealed

The number of people in the agriculture; forestry and fishing; and mining and quarrying sectors claiming the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment...
Dáil to question 3 ministers on meat plants in ‘historic move’

Agri Politics

Dáil to question 3 ministers on meat plants in ‘historic move’

The Dáil will take the “unprecedented step” of questioning three cabinet ministers in a single Dáil session on the scale of...
Weather to turn unsettled over coming week

Environment

Weather to turn unsettled over coming week

After a fairly dry and sunny period in much of the country at the start of this week, weather conditions...
Kubota to invest in company behind Farmtrac tractors

Machinery

Kubota to invest in company behind Farmtrac tractors

Japanese machinery manufacturer Kubota has announced an investment in the Indian company behind the Farmtrac tractor range. With this arrangement...
Returning workers reminded to close PUP claim

Rural Life

Returning workers reminded to close PUP claim

People returning to work on or after next Monday, May 18, are being reminded to close their claim for the...