€1.4m Government funding to progress pioneering collaboration for ‘Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems - MAGS’  Projects focus on innovations for feed, manure and slurry and targeted breeding programme  Studies build on research which shows potential for significant methane reduction for beef and dairy farming  Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and development, Martin Heydon T.D., and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir MLA, have announced funding of €1.4million for University of Galway to lead a research consortium to pioneer greenhouse gas reduction solutions for agriculture.  Teagasc, the Northern Ireland-based Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation will work with scientists at the University to expand testing and evaluation of a combination of cutting-edge technologies and farming innovations to lower methane emissions from cattle and sheep.  The research-based project, Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems (MAGS) focuses on evaluating solutions for feed, breeding and manure management.   It aims to apply the most effective feed additives, while improving their formulation for long-lasting effects, in combination with novel genomic breeding and manure management. Scientific analysis will identify the best combinations of strategies which can be delivered on farms in Northern Ireland and in the Republic, through the Teagasc Signpost programme.   Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and development, Martin Heydon T.D., said: “The €1.4m committed to the MAGS project (Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems) by my Department, along with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, is an indication of our ambition and commitment to reduce methane emissions from agriculture. This project builds on the success of previously DAFM-funded projects in this area, such as ‘MethAbate’ and ‘GreenBreed’.   “The MAGS project will focus on further developing technologies, including methane inhibitors and breeding strategies, for application in beef and dairy pasture-based systems to mitigate animal and manure methane.  “Ireland has committed to reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. Research investment into novel methane reduction technologies through projects like MAGS is a central part of achieving these targets. An important aspect of the project is research collaboration, and I am pleased that the project coordinator, Dr Sinéad Waters, has brought together scientific partners from across the Island of Ireland to concentrate ideas, expertise and knowledge in a way that accelerates progress in these novel technologies.”  Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir MLA, welcoming the funding, said: “I am pleased that my Department is co-funding this research project with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, bringing together leading scientists from across the Island of Ireland to address, through cutting-edge science, greenhouse gas emissions from grazing livestock systems. Collaborative research funding of this nature is key in helping to underpin the future sustainability of dairy, beef and sheep systems, through the provision of evidence and new innovations to contribute to the required reductions of net greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland by at least 48% by 2030 under the Climate Change Act.”      Agriculture contributes about 37% of Irish greenhouse gas emissions. Government has committed to reducing these farming related emissions by 25% by 2030, including a recommended 10% reduction in agri-methane.  Methane accounts for about 70% of emissions associated with agriculture, predominantly from methane produced in the gut of the animal as feed ferments in the rumen, while methane from manure and slurry are the third largest contributor to emissions from farms.  Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems  MAGS is an all-island initiative, with funding of €1.437m through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s 2023 Research Stimulus Fund.   The project will develop, apply and validate a range of the most promising novel technologies, including breeding strategies, feed and manure additives to mitigate methane in beef and dairy farming.   Beef cattle in Teagasc Grange, Co Meath and Holstein Friesian dairy cows in AFBI, Hillsborough, Northern Ireland will be used to evaluate novel slow-release feed additives in combination with microbiome assisted genomic breeding values on animal performance, health and enteric methane emissions, while the effect of manure and slurry additives at farm-scale will also be monitored.  Feed  Various slow-release formats of an oxidising methane inhibitor, commercially known as RumenGlas and developed by Glasport Bio, will be evaluated, both on its own and in combination with a range of other promising feed additives for beef and dairy cattle. A trial in Teagasc Grange demonstrated that a pelleted format of the inhibitor reduced methane by 28% with no negative effects observed on animal performance or health.   Manure  The efficacy of a slurry additive, GasAbate, produced by GlasPort Bio, will be tested at farm-scale, with the aim of creating a blueprint for widespread agri-sector roll out.  Methane losses from stored manures account for c. 10% of Irish agricultural GHG emissions. No effective, widely implementable and commercially available mitigation solutions currently exist. But research has shown the GasAbate additive reduces methane losses from stored slurries by more than 80%.   Breeding  In conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, the MAGS project will develop and validate a selection and breeding programme for beef and dairy cattle that emit less methane which is produced from the gut during grazing.  Research by the project partners has already shown that some beef cattle can emit up to 30% less methane, for the same level of performance.   While the critical role that the rumen microbial community plays in methane emissions is acknowledged, the integration of microbiome data to improve genomic selection breeding of animals emitting lower methane emissions has not yet been applied in Ireland or internationally.    Dr Sinéad Waters, MAGS Project Lead and Lecturer in host microbiome interactions in the Environment at University of Galway, said: “Agriculture is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous industry but now faces major challenges in meeting the 2030 targets of a 25% reduction for farming-related greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies to mitigate methane emissions related to cattle and sheep need to be rapidly developed and implemented on farm to comply with these targets. With research partners and colleagues, and the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine our aim is to develop and deliver important solutions for the agri-food-industry to reduce methane from pasture-based farms. We have brought together a unique team of excellent scientists and industry partners whose collaboration can support the Irish agri-food sector and align with international initiatives such as the EU Methane Strategy and Global Methane Pledge.”  Professor Vincent O'Flaherty, Established Professor of Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, said: “Significant progress has been made in the development of real-world solutions to reduce Irish agricultural greenhouse gas emissions through DAFM-funded research. GasAbate slurry additive technology to reduce GHG emissions by more than 80% is now available for on-farm demonstration and the next phase of work through the MAGS project will provide additional evidence to support widespread adoption. Ireland’s pasture system provides unique challenges for the development of effective methane supressing feed additives, but the results from our work to date have been very encouraging, with greatly reduced enteric emissions demonstrated in beef cattle fed with commercially produced diets containing novel additives. The MAGS project will develop and refine slow-release feed additive formats that, in combination with advances in breeding strategies, can provide critical support to Ireland in meeting its agricultural GHG targets.”  Professor David Kenny, Head of Animal and Bioscience Research at Teagasc said: “We are excited to be involved in this hugely novel and multidisciplinary research project. The holistic combination of state-of-the-art genetic and dietary based methane mitigation strategies together with the focus on development of practical solutions for pasture-based beef and dairy production systems, bodes well for successful implementation of new technologies emanating from the project.”   Ends 

 States and maritime actors must take urgent and coordinated action to prevent trafficking in persons in the context of migration at sea, United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking Professor Siobhán Mullally has said.    Professor Siobhán Mullally is the Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway and was appointed Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2020.    In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, Professor Mullally said: “The States’ obligations to prevent trafficking in persons, to identify, assist and protect victims of trafficking, without discrimination, continue to apply at sea. The failure to fulfil these obligations increases risks of trafficking in persons, in particular child victims and other serious violations of international law, including potential violations of the principle of non-refoulement.”    The report is available here     Under international human rights law, the principle of non-refoulement guarantees that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other irreparable harm. This principle applies to all migrants at all times, irrespective of migration status.    The Special Rapporteur report addresses the obligations to ensure accountability for trafficking in persons, and access to remedies for victims, recognising difficulties for victims in the context of mixed movements at sea.    Professor Mullally said: “In the midst of often contested jurisdiction and increasing criminalisation of irregular movements, international law, as it applies to protection at sea, sets out a comprehensive range of obligations for maritime actors, including states, non-state actors, commercial vessels and international and regional entities.”    The Special Rapporteur report reflects on the often politicised and punitive responses to mixed movements of refugees and migrants at sea, including restrictions on safe, regular migration; restricted access to asylum; ‘pushbacks’ risking refoulement; arrest and detention upon disembarkation; unjust punishment of victims for offences related to their migration status, and criminalisation of human rights defenders engaged in search and rescue operations. These responses force people to take more dangerous journeys and places them at higher risk of becoming victims of trafficking in persons.    The Special Rapporteur said that protecting victims of trafficking and persons at risk of trafficking must comply with international law, recognising trauma and serious harms.    Recommendations include mechanisms for screening and referral of victims of trafficking at places of disembarkation, providing access and referral pathways to specialised trauma-informed assistance and protection services, health services - including reproductive and sexual health services and psychosocial assistance - and safe accommodation for victims of trafficking.    All necessary measures should be taken to identify, assist and protect child victims of trafficking and children at risk of trafficking, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination, ensuring the best interests of the child as a priority.    Professor Siobhán Mullally was appointed as Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2020, to promote the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms, and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims. She is also the Established Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the School of Law, University of Galway. Prior to her appointment as Special Rapporteur, she was a member of the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), elected as President of GRETA from 2016-2018 and as 1st Vice-President from 2014-2018.    The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.    Ends

Tá sé fógartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go bhfuil an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh ag éirí as a ról mar Uachtarán. Chuir an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh an scéal in iúl d’Údarás na hOllscoile ag cruinniú maidin inniu. Fanfaidh an tUachtarán sa phost go dtí tús na bliana acadúla nua.    Dúirt Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Cathaoirleach Údarás na hOllscoile: “Thar ceann Údarás Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Ollamh Ó hÓgartaigh as a chuid oibre, a chuid éachtaí agus a cheannaireacht agus guím gach rath air don todhchaí.“Stiúraigh an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh an Ollscoil seo trí dhúshláin nach bhfacthas cheana riamh aimsir na paindéime, le teann tuisceana agus comhbhá. Mhair sé agus d’oibrigh sé trí na luachanna meas, oscailteacht, barr feabhais agus inbhuanaitheacht. Chuir sé go mór leis an earnáil, go háirithe ó thaobh tacaíochtaí agus maoiniú do mhic léinn, agus tá sé ag fágáil anois agus seasamh láidir ag an Ollscoil don am atá le teacht.”             Dúirt an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh: "Tá sé socraithe agam éirí as mo ról mar Uachtarán ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar spéiseanna eile. “Tar éis machnamh a dhéanamh air seo go cúramach le scaitheamh, measaim gurb é seo an t-am ceart agus an Ollscoil ag forbairt straitéis nua do 2025-2030; beidh Údarás na hOllscoile nua againn go luath in 2025; agus táimid ag ullmhú don bhliain acadúil nua. “Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil as an tacaíocht agus as an gcineáltas a léiríodh dom le linn mo chuid ama anseo, agus guím gach rath ar ár gcuid mac léinn, alumni, taighdeoirí agus acadóirí agus ar an bhfoireann ghairmiúil a chinntíonn go bhfuil mo alma mater – an institiúid ar leith seo, an áit ar leith seo – i measc na n-ollscoilleanna is fearr san Eoraip agus ar domhan, ollscoil í seo gan aon teorainneacha. Tá ról lárnach ag ollscoileanna sa phobal. Bhí lorg láidir ag an oideachas ar Éirinn. Is tréimhse dhúshlánach é seo don earnáil agus athruithe suntasacha le feiceáil sa rialachas – athruithe a bhfuil fáilte rompu. Tá súil agam sa chomhthéacs seo go bhfeicfimid infheistíocht don chéad ghlúin eile ag teacht i gcrích.” Tá forbairt shuntasach tarlaithe le linn thréimhse an Ollaimh Uí Ógartaigh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i réimsí éagsúla, lena n-áirítear: Tá an ollscoil i measc an 100 ollscoil is fearr san Eoraip, rangaithe de réir QS, agus #1 in Éirinn; i measc na 5 ollscoil is fearr san AE; agus i measc an 50 ollscoil is fearr ar domhan as ár dtionchar ar na Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe, mar atá rangaithe de réir Times Higher Education. Tá Gradam Cré-umha Athena Swan bainte amach faoi dhó as a chéile do chomhionannas inscne, agus tá gradam bainte amach ag 12 scoil, lena n-áirítear Gradam Airgid do Scoil na hInnealtóireachta. Tugadh Polasaí maidir le Foréigean Baile isteach chun tacú go rúnda leo siúd a fhulaingíonn foréigean baile; tugadh Polasaí maidir le Gníomhaíocht Dhearfach isteach chun tacú lenár dtiomantas do thimpeallacht oibre uilechuimsitheach a bheith againn do chách; agus tugadh tionscnamh an Toilithe* Ghníomhaigh isteach. Baineadh an t-ioncam taighde is airde riamh i stair na hollscoile amach in 2023, agus le cúig bliana anuas bhí ár n-ioncam taighde 40% níos airde ná mar a bhí sna cúig bliana roimhe sin. Tá obair tosaithe ar an Leabharlann agus Ionad Foghlama nua; tá dúbailt ar an méid lóistín do mhic léinn atá ar an gcampas; agus tá méadú 22% tagtha ar líon na mac léinn idirnáisiúnta. Táimid rangaithe ag IBEC i measc an 100 fostóir is fearr in Éirinn as ár gcuid oibre ar fholláine.   Nóta beathaisnéise Ceapadh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh ina thríú huachtarán déag ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i mí Eanáir 2018. Bhí sé ina Ollamh le Cuntasaíocht agus ina Dhéan ar Choláiste an Ghnó in COBÁC roimhe seo, áit a raibh sé i gceannas ar na scoileanna seo a leanas de chuid COBÁC: Scoil Ghnó Lochlann Quinn, Scoil Ghnó Iarchéime Michael Smurfit, agus Forbairt Feidhmeannach Smurfit. Bhí cláir COBÁC thar lear in Hong Cong, Singeapór agus Srí Lanca faoina stiúir freisin. Ba i Scoil Iognáid agus i gColáiste Iognáid i nGaillimh a fuair an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh a chuid scolaíochta, agus is céimí de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe é, áit ar bhain sé amach céadonóracha agus an chéad áit ina rang. Chuaigh sé i mbun traenála mar Chuntasóir Cairte le Arthur Andersen agus bhain sé céim PhD sa Chuntasaíocht amach in Ollscoil Leeds. Tá iliomad saothar foilsithe aige i réimse na cuntasaíochta agus chaith sé tréimhse ag obair i bpoist acadúla in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, COBÁC agus in Ollscoil Victoria, in Wellington, an Nua-Shéalainn. Chaith sé tréimhse ar scoláireacht Fulbright in Ollscoil Northeastern (Bostún, SAM). Bhí sé ina Chathaoirleach ar an gCoiste Iniúchóireachta sa Roinn Cumarsáide, Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha agus ina bhall de Choiste Iniúchóireachta na Roinne Airgeadais. Bhí sé ina Stiúrthóir Neamhspleách Neamhfheidhmiúcháin ar Avolon freisin, ceann de na cuideachtaí léasaithe eitleán is mó ar domhan áit a raibh sé ina chathaoirleach ar an gCoiste Iniúchta chomh maith. Bhí sé ina bhall de bhord neamhreachtúil an Ghrúpa Ospidéal Saolta agus ina Chathaoirleach ar Choiste Straitéise an Ghrúpa. Mar Uachtarán, tá cúram déanta aige dá réimsí taighde i gcónaí leis an gcion a rinne sé do stair chleachtas na cuntasaíochta airgeadais in The Routledge Companion to Accounting History (An Dara hEagrán, Bealtaine 2020). D’fhoilsigh sé freisin i réimse na ceannaireachta acadúla lena n-áirítear caibidil dar teideal ‘Of things being various’ in Thriving in Academic Leadership (2023). Tá sé ina bhall de Bhord Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann arna cheapadh ag an Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, agus ina bhall de Chomhairle na hInstitiúide Taighde Eacnamaíochta agus Sóisialta (ESRI). Tá sé ina chathaoirleach ar Choistí Iniúchóireachta agus Riosca an dá eagraíocht. Críoch