The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) Ltd

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Jim O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Adrian O'Higgins (Special Advisor), Department of Justice

Intent: Legal Clarification - Agricultural & Forestry Machinery & use of Cycle Lanes / Road Edge Space

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: Meeting Request - Agricultural Contracting Sector Staffing Shortage & Inclusion of Operational Machinery Drivers on the Critical Skill Occupation List

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: Thank you email to Minister for meeting held on the 14.01.2026

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Barry Cowen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Cowen (MEP), European Parliament; John Clendennen (Councillor), Offaly County Council; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (Councillor), Louth County council; Ciaran Mullooly (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: To request a meeting on Urgent Request for Meeting – Inclusion of Agricultural & Forestry Contractors in Ireland’s CAP 2028 Strategic Plan

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Paschal Donohoe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Finance; Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; John Clendennen (Councillor), Offaly County Council; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Handed Association of Farm & Foresty Contrators in Ireland (FCI) Budget Submission

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Barry Cowen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Cowen (MEP), European Parliament; Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Ciaran Mullooly (MEP), European Parliament

Intent: The message from rural Ireland is clear: those delivering the work—Agricultural and Forestry Contractors—must be part of the solution. Their inclusion in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for 2028 and beyond will drive climate progress, strengthen rural economies, and ensure a fairer future. FCI would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss how this can be structured effectively.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Jackie Healy-Rae (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Michael Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Grant Assistance to Support Investment in Static Slurry Separation Systems

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Charlie McConalogue (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Jackie Healy-Rae (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Paul Dillon (Assistant Secretary), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Philip Kelly (Assistant Secretary), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: Request for Meeting and Proposal: Inclusion of Operational Machinery Drivers on Critical Skills List - and to propose a pathway to remedy this via inclusion of “operational drivers for contracting & forestry machinery” in the Critical Skills Occupation List for skilled workers.Under the following topics 1. Nature of the Challenge, 2. Proposed Solution: Critical Skills Inclusion, 3. Requesting for Meeting & Next steps, 4. Why this matters now,.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Jackie Healy-Rae (Special Advisor), Department of Agriculture and the Marine; Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; James Browne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Submission from the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) – to put a National Contingency Plan in place to allow for an extension of the period for slurry spreading from October 1, 2025 to October 15, 2025 due to ongoing grass growth

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Jackie Healy-Rae (Special Advisor), Department of Agriculture and the Marine; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Charlie McConalogue (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Denise M. Kennedy (Assistant Secretary General), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: To request inclusion in task forces

Methods: Email