The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Politician(s) lobbied: Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament; Kevin Boxer Moran (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Tom Farrell (Councillor), Westmeath County Council

Intent: To highlight agricultural issues of concern to Irish farmers.::To discuss the forth coming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget and the implications for Irish farmers.

Methods: Event / ReceptionInformal communicationSocial Media

Politician(s) lobbied: Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Clare Mungovan (Special Advisor), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: To discuss IFA's key priorities for Budget 2027::Taxation::• Capital Acquisition taxes (increased thresholds and retention of Agricultural Relief)::• Increase in VAT Flat Rate Addition to reflect higher input prices and lower output prices::• Residential Zoned Land Tax::Expenditure::• Additional support for vulnerable sectors (in particular tillage)::• Retention of fuel support funds within agricultural sector to help alleviate other impacts of energy costs including maximising 200% co-financing of Ireland's allocation under the EU fertiliser support package::• Increased TAMS Budget

Methods: EmailInformal communicationMeetingSocial Media

Politician(s) lobbied: Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Jack O'Donnell (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Finance; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: To ensure all applicants to the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) are accepted in 2026 and any additional funds found.

Methods: Informal communicationMeetingPhone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Prof. Frank O'Mara (Director), Teagasc

Intent: To accept an invitation from Teagasc to participate in the Better Farming for Water Campaign steering group.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Deirdre Gillane (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Jack O'Donnell (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Finance; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niall Collins (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Pat 'the cope' Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Daly (Senator), Seanad; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To propose the introduction of a minimum 50% capital grant for development of farmer owned farm scale biogas plants - financed through Infrastructure and Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) and/or feed in tariff.::To propose the immediate reduction of Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO). The RHO is necessary to make the Biomethane sector financially viable.::To propose the introduction of a renewable energy finance scheme that provides state-supported low-cost finance.::To seek the establishment of a dedicated farmer category within the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) with scaled support to protect the viability of small and medium scale projects.::To propose renewable taxation reliefs for solar farms extended to farmer invested wind turbines.::To propose the maintenance of all existing taxation reliefs and exemptions for farmers involved in AD and any other renewable activities.::To propose a solar incentive that allows farmers to install systems beyond their own usage

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Deirdre Gillane (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Jack O'Donnell (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Finance; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niall Collins (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Pat the Cope Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Daly (Senator), Seanad; Paul Daly (Senator), Seanad; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To seek rates of up to €600/ha for beans, peas and lupins, 50% for combi crops to encourage farmers to grow protein crops.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Deirdre Gillane (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Jack O'Donnell (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Finance; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niall Collins (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Pat 'the cope' Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Daly (Senator), Seanad; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To propose that a new Over-Wintering Support Scheme should be introduced, spanning fodder and bedding, with applications open to all farmers. Increased allocations should be afforded to farmers in uplands and Natura 2000 sites.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Sinead McPhillips (Secretary General), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: To seek clarity on what the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine would deliver on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Budget.::To discuss what the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine propose to deliver in the future when they take charge of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (single fund) implementation.

Methods: EmailEvent / ReceptionInformal communicationLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Jack O'Donnell (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Finance; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niall Collins (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Pat the Cope Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Daly (Senator), Seanad; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To emphasise that the entire fallen animal disposal system requires review in order to deliver the most efficient system that guarantees collection of fallen animals to all farmers in the country at competitive rates provided.::To propose that the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine subsides the cost of collection to reduce the burden on farmers and ensure the fees charged to all farmers are competitive.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Deirdre Gillane (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; Jack O'Donnell (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Finance; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niall Collins (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Pat the Cope Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Daly (Senator), Seanad; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To highlight how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected Irish agriculture due to the disruption to trade and supply chains and caused a sharp rise in energy and fertiliser prices. Irish agriculture has been greatly affected due to its heavy reliance on green diesel and imported fertilisers required for crop and grass production.::To propose the removal/suspension of carbon tax on green diesel and the extension/reinstatement of current fuel support schemes if fuel prices do not return to pre-Middle East conflict levels.::To propose the removal of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on imported nitrogen fertilisers. Ireland is particularly vulnerable due to reliance on Urea fertilisers from non-EU countries.::To insist that the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine introduces a fertiliser scheme with an additional 200% national funding delivered in addition to EU funding allocation.::That the scheme is designed to deliver funding to farmers rapidly and

Methods: EmailMeeting