Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A FARMING SUPPORT group has issued its sympathies to the families of the young children who died in separate farm accidents recently, and says the pressures of low income are seeing more farmers being given the added responsibility for childcare.
A five-year-old boy was killed in an accident on a farm in Co Offaly last week, and a three-year-old boy was fatally injured in an accident in Cork. The HSA is investigating both incidents.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) says that farmers are increasingly taking on the responsibility of looking after their children during the busy summer months of farming as well as running their farms because low income is pushing their spouses into off-farm employment.
“Statistics show that farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in terms of accidents and fatalities,” said the ICSA’s John Flynn.
“Young children particularly should be kept away from dangers like machinery and livestock. However, we can’t lose sight of the fact that the farm is a home as well as a workplace.”
Macra na Feirme National President, Kieran O’Dowd, said that farms are particularly busy places at this time of year, making it “essential that everyone on the farm are aware of the dangers and take precautions.”
“Macra aims to instill a respect for farm safety right from the start of a young farmers career through initiatives and competitions which provide a practical insight,” he added.
The agri sector records the highest number of workplace fatalities in Ireland. To date this year, 17 people have died in farm accidents – up from 16 across the whole of 2013. Last year, four children were killed in farm-related accidents.
The HSA’s ‘Code of practice on preventing accidents to children and young persons in agriculture’ issues recommendations for improving farm safety, including guidelines on safe areas for play, safe supervision and training, and the operation of farm machinery.
IFA President Eddie Downey said that while farming is a high-risk occupation, accidents can be reduced by taking extra time and care over farm tasks:
Being tired, distracted and stressed is often a reality on busy farms and every effort must be made to avoid shortcuts. At the peak of this busy summer season on farms, safety must come first.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Go noonan, there is only one way you can satisfy electorate, burn senior bondholders or else loose all respect from us, If you back out.
He looks like a bull dog chewing a wasp, but I think hes the only one with any guts and backbone in the Government and that he has found his place in Finance. Burn ‘em Michael, look after Ireland before the EU currency! The EU will do everything it can to keep the Euro so tell ‘em we will burn them all, close the banks and open our own new bank not linked to EU based on Irish deposits and then see what they have to say about interet rates and corporation tax – tell ‘em will cut that too if they mention it again !
Could Ireland being getting a pair of liathroidi. About time.
Merkle and sarkozi (which my iPhone autocorrects to ‘warlock’ ha!) are so reluctant to burn the bondholders because most of them are French and German. It has everything to do with protecting their own patch and trying to get re-elected, and nothing to do with the good of Europe as a whole. We need to be part of Europe, but the cowtowing and grovelling needs to be over. The bondholders should have to carry their own pain, it was a failed investment. If they could reap the benefits, which they did, they should have to take the burden as well.
It’s like a poker game out there , and Noonan has the face and the balls to get us a better deal .who else would you send ,(he’s from Limerick )
Anyone explain how a Greek default would have consequences for Ireland?
Just wondering.
Putting more debt on top of more debt in Greece is solving nothing………and very bad financial advice…………I hope the people on the streets of Greece win….
The euro is a cobbled together currency and is doomed to failure,its only function is to keep Merkin and Kermit important in their own minds.
Several of the newspaper pundits forecast [ some six months ago ?] that the real crunch would come here in June/July when the fight to pay bills got too much and when the money borrowed from family and friends to avoid the shame of not paying the mortgage dried up.I think one writer gave advice on how to stuff the building society and keep the roof over ones head by using the courts ? Will we see this happen in the next few weeks?
have your say