Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Intent: Have AgTech Ireland be part of the shaping of enterprise policy for the next decade. AgTech Ireland is keen to ensure the sector's needs in terms of business development and export market supports, connections with research, access to finance and more are duly taken into account when defining business and enterprise policy for the next decade and beyond.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Lloyd Pearson, Chair of AgTech Ireland was invited by the Minister's office and department personnel to be part of the consultative committee
Politician(s) lobbied: Noel Grealish (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Discussion of the following:AgTech Ireland and sector overview.Supports for agtech firms entering emerging markets, especially Sub-Saharan Africa.Gaps in export supports beyond Enterprise Ireland's priority markets; improving Pathfinder.Research, innovation and commercialisation supports, incl. validation/trialling and domestic manufacture.Barriers to scaling: fragmented market access, regulatory complexity, limited international networks.Collaboration with Minister Grealish's Department.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Emails with Minister Grealish's office to agree time and date for meeting and to share agenda.
Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Laura Mannion (Special Advisor), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Intent: In discussions with Minister Peter Burke and Enterprise Ireland, the AgTech Ireland Board highlighted the sector’s role in rural jobs and regional growth. Talks focused on faster policy and funding supports, building globally significant agtech companies like Halter, and expanding into emerging food-security markets while improving access to and visibility of existing supports.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Meeting with Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, his special advisor Laura Mannion and Enterprise Ireland personnel.Also attending the meeting were a delegation from the Board of AgTech Ireland.
Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Bill Callanan (Chief Inspector), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Engagement with Minister Heydon and his officials focused on shaping TAMS and other supports to accelerate on-farm technology adoption, as well as improving access for agtech SMEs to finance, including through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. The critical role of Teagasc in underpinning innovation and on-farm adoption was also reinforced.
Methods: EmailMeetingInformal communication
Details by Method
Email
Emails to the Minister's office to request meeting.
Meeting
Meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, and his officials Bill Calanan and John Muldowney.
Informal communication
Texts/SMS with Brian Purcell to confirm arrangements for meeting.
Politician(s) lobbied: Barry Cowen (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Ciaran Mullooly (MEP), European Parliament; Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP), European Parliament; Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament
Intent: Improved understanding for our group of AgTech Ireland company representatives of the impact of global geopolitical developments on EU policy as it will impact agriculture, farming and environmental legislation, but also supports for the development of sustainability and efficiency enhancing technologies by agtech innovators, and their adoption by farmers.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
One meeting in the European Parliament buildings in Brussels.
Politician(s) lobbied: Barry Cowen (MEP), European Parliament; Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Ciaran Mullooly (MEP), European Parliament; Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament; Kathleen Funchion (MEP), European Parliament; Luke Ming Flanagan (MEP), European Parliament; Michael McNamara (MEP), European Parliament
Intent: Arrange meeting with the Irish MEPs to discuss the European and global geopolitical context and its impact on the EU MFF, funding for CAP and on-farm investment, the new approach to regulations/environmental compliance and how this might impact the priority given to sustainability and innovation adoption by farmers in the new CAP.
Methods: Phone callEmail
Details by Method
Phone call
CL follow up with Barry Cowen's assistant Conor Owens to tie up details.
Email
Ronan Boyle made initial contact with Barry Cowen, MEP.Catherine Lascurettes followed up with confirmation and correspondence to invite all rural based Irish MEPs to join a session, kindly hosted by Barry Cowen, MEP in the EP on 14th January 2026.
Politician(s) lobbied: Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel Grealish (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; William Aird (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Increasing awareness among TDs of agtech industry, its relationship to the agriculture sector, and its potential to support it in improving sustainability of agriculture. Opportunity to exchange.
Methods: Informal communication
Details by Method
Informal communication
Conversations upon meeting at public events.
Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Improving our members' understanding of developing policy situation regarding nitrates derogation, CAP negotiations and more.::Opportunity for our members to engage in dialogue with Minister on issues of concern, including CAP payments, support for on-farm investment through TAMS and more.
Methods: Informal communicationEmail
Details by Method
Informal communication
Conversations at unrelated events to invite and confirm Minister's attendance.
Email
Emails to the Minister's office and the Minister to invite and confirm attendance.
Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Facilitate Minister Heydon in opening the AgTech Ireland Conference 'Transforming Agriculture with AI' at the Curragh Racecourse on 21st May 2025.
Methods: Informal communication
Details by Method
Informal communication
Telephone conversations with Minister Heydon and Minister Heydon's assistant.
Politician(s) lobbied: Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Participation of Minister Heydon to the AgTech Ireland Conference 'Transforming Agriculture with AI' as Opening Speaker.
Methods: Phone callInformal communication
Details by Method
Phone call
Call to Brian Purcell, in Minister Heydon's office, on 10th April 2025, to request the Minister's participation as Opening Speaker.
Informal communication
WhatsApp message with Barry Cassidy, in Minister Heydon's office, on 30th March 2025 for same.
