Lobbying Records (Page 1 of 5)
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-05-18
Intent: To invite the new EU Commissioner for Agriculture to address the IFA 70th AGM.::To invite the Minister for Agriculture and the Ministers of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the IFA 70th AGM::To highlight the importance of the next CAP and how it will work for Irish farming. In particular, a level of funding that recognises the cost pressures farmers face in producing quality food to the highest standards. The CAP Budget has been redirected to supporting environmental ambition rather than production, which must stop. ::To highlight that the EU needs to have a separate environment fund with new money to deliver climate ambition.::To stress that Pillar II of the next Common Agricultural Policy cannot be based on cost incurred, income foregone. It must leave a return for the farmer.::To highlight that in the current CAP, GAEC 2 is going to cause problems. The potential impact for the thousands of farmers in this country working on peat soils could be significa
Details: IFA 70th AGM
Officials: Amii McKeever, Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Barry Cassidy, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, Charlie McConalogue, Ciaran Mullooly, ...
Methods: Letter, Informal communication, Event / Reception, ...
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-05-18
Intent: That as Trilogues progress on the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive which was voted on in Parliament last April, IFA remains invested in the development of the legislation and hopes to see a measured outcome emerge from trilogues which is consistent with the requests for simplification of agricultural and environmental policies for farmers which have been extensively platformed in recent months.::It remains imperative to recognise that soils are already highly regulated under multiple European Regulations and Directives. For example, the Common Agricultural Policy has 9 Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECS) which are tied to the conditionality of Direct Payments with GAEC 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9, all having provisions that relate to the protection and management of soils either directly or indirectly.::The Irish CAP Strategic Plan also applies a voluntary Eco-Scheme which allows farmers to deliver on soil sampling, liming, the sowing of multispecies swards and plant
Details: EU Trilogues Negotiations Regarding the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive
Officials: Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, Ciaran Mullooly, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Kathleen Funchion, Luke Ming Flanagan, ...
Methods: Submission, Letter
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-05-18
Intent: To highlight that despite the political desire on behalf of the EU community to foster strong trading relationships with South America, this cannot be done at the cost of the Irish farm family sector, the Irish consumer, or the Irish economy. there are significant issues regarding standards and traceability and the issues of transport emissions.::To reiterate the Irish farmers objection to the Mercosur deal. Irish and European farmers have clearly voiced their opposition to any conclusion of the Mercosur Trade Agreement. From recent bilateral engagement between the European Commission and Mercosur representatives, in addition to subsequent media commentary reflecting a clear desire to progress to a conclusion.::It is felt by Irish farmers that our concerns are being minimised at the behest of an expedient resolution to the political agreement reached 5 years ago. As IFA President, I cannot accept thi::To highlight that Irish farmers have protested in Dublin in 2011 outside the European
Details: Mercosur
Officials: Aindrias Moynihan, Alan Dillon, Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, Brian Stanley, Carol Nolan, ...
Methods: Meeting, Informal communication, Event / Reception, ...
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-05-16
Intent: That the Government and MEPs must honour their commitments to stand up for farmers and defend their interests by opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.::To discuss farmers' concerns with the Minister for Finance.
Details: Mercosur - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025
Officials: Aindrias Moynihan, Alan Dillon, Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Barry Cassidy, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, Bobby O'Connell, ...
Methods: Meeting, Informal communication, Email, ...
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-01-21
Intent: To highlight that a River Basin Management Plan for Ireland published this week shows the amount of work that is ongoing nationally and at farm level within the agricultural sector to improve water quality.::To highlight that the breadth of new measures and actions that have been implemented in the last number of years by farmers and the wider industry to improve water quality is significant.::To highlight that the plan clearly sets out the range of new measures that have been introduced under the 5th Nitrates Action Plan and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan, as well as the targeted programmes such as the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) or the Water European Innovation Partnership Scheme (EIP) that work directly with farmers reduce nutrient losses and support action.::To highlight that the Water Action Plan shows the drive of farmers and the wider industry to deliver improvements in water quality. The recently launched Better Farmin
Details: Water Action Plan
Officials: Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, Ciaran Mullooly, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Kathleen Funchion, Luke Ming Flanagan, ...
Methods: Email, Informal communication
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-01-18
Intent: To highlight that the nitrates derogation is of huge importance to the Irish agri-food sector and the wider economy. The derogation allows grassland farmers to maximise the advantages of our grass-based system while somewhat balancing the significant economic disadvantages they encounter compared to European Union (EU) counterparts.::To highlight that the uncertainty around the future of the nitrates derogation is doing little to improve water quality but is causing havoc for Irish farmers who are in the dark as to what parameters they will be farming within from 2026.::To emphasise that the following is needed as a sector -::Fair analysis of the impact of agriculture on water quality::The sector fully accepts that agriculture has an influence on water quality. However, it is not the only pressure. Failings in other sectors, such as urban wastewater, cannot be allowed jeopardise Ireland's ability to retain a nitrates derogation. It is imperative that the impact of non-agricultural sour
Details: Retaining Ireland's Nitrates Derogation - Common Objectives
Officials: Alan Tobin, Anne Rabbitte, Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Bernard Durkan, Billy Kelleher, Brian Leddin, ...
Methods: Email, Social Media, Informal communication, ...
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-01-18
Intent: To highlight how the proposed increases in the non-domestic water tariffs will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable of farm families, extensive farmers on fragmented holdings with multiple water connections.::To highlight that the latest Teagasc Farm Survey , which was published on the 23rd July, shows that farm incomes have declined further in 2023, with the average farm income now less than €20,000, a drop of 20% from 2022. While the average income of drystock farmers (those most impacted by the increased tariffs) was on average €7,500 with suckler farmer incomes now the lowest on record.::To highlight that the reduction in farm incomes means that only 28% of farms in 2023 are viable, a sharp decline from 2022 when 43% of farms were viable. The financial viability is even more stark for extensive farming systems with only 11% of cattle rearing farms viable.::To emphasise that one of the guiding principles of the tariff framework is that tariffs should be equitable and not un
Details: Non-Domestic Water Tariff
Officials: Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Bernard Durkan, Billy Kelleher, Brian Cowen, Brian Leddin, Ciaran Mullooly, Claire Kerrane, ...
Methods: Letter, Email, Informal communication
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-01-18
Intent: To highlight the progression of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) since its proposal in 2021 and, through COPA COGECA, to continually relay IFA concerns about the potential impacts of its implementation for Irish farmers due to the complex and highly bureaucratic nature of the regulation.::To seek an immediate postponement of the implementation of the EUDR until the concerns of farmers are comprehensively answered and it can be ensured that farmers will not bear an unfair economic burden due to the associated bureaucratic complexities of the legislation's implementation.::To seek a more thorough assessment of the regulation, with pragmatic solutions, to ensure the EUDR does not have a significant negative economic impact on farmers in Ireland and the wider EU.
Details: European Deforestation Programme
Officials: Amii McKeever, Aodhan O'Riordain, Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, Charlie McConalogue, Ciaran Mullooly, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, ...
Methods: Letter, Meeting, Informal communication, ...
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-01-18
Intent: That any boost in political / societal expectations of farmers must be matched with increased agricultural budgets, with inflation and new EU accession countries also accounted for.::That the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and its mechanisms, must put active farmers and food production at its core in design. Environmental ambition should be funded independent of CAP.::That the Government must invest in agriculture and support farm incomes/viability by providing the maximum permissible level of national co-financing to deliver essential targeted sectoral supports sucklers (€300/ cow), sheep (€30/ewe [€40/hill sheep]), tillage (€250/ ha for Tillage Survival Scheme in 2024; €400/ha in 2025 [€250/ ha in 2026-2028] for additional [and retained] cereal crops grown), calf rearing (€100/dairy beef calf); beef sustainability (€100 per dairy and suckling yearling).::ThataAll farmers should get at least 70% of their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) payment in mid-October. Issues
Details: Simplified, Fully Funded Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Officials: Aisling Moran, Alan Kelly, Amii McKeever, Anne Rabbitte, Antoín Watters, Aoife Masterson, Barry Ward, Bernard Durkan, ...
Methods: Submission, Letter, Informal communication
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA
2025-01-18
Intent: That a full impact assessment (financial, trade etc) of the fitness of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the broader EU Single Market must be undertaken in advance of future EU accession, with innovative solutions regarding EU budgets and policies implemented in advance, where required.
Details: EU Enlargement
Officials: Aisling Moran, Alan Kelly, Amii McKeever, Anne Rabbitte, Antoín Watters, Aoife Masterson, Barry Ward, Bernard Durkan, ...
Methods: Submission, Letter, Informal communication