Danny Owens

Intent: To invite local Councillors to an IFA Public meeting to discuss IFA's position on the Bord Bia Chair and why his double standards have caused huge farmer anger on the ground.

Details: IFA Laois/Offaly Public Meeting - Bord Bia

Intent: To support the IFA on its call for the Government to remove the Chairperson of an Bord Bia, Mr. Larry Murrin, from his position in light of the ongoing controversy and protest.

Details: Offaly Local Authority - Bord Bia

Intent: Delivery of Additional Housing at Charleville Rd, Tullamore, Co.Offaly

Details: Delivery of Additional Housing at Charleville Rd, Tullamore, Co.Offaly

Intent: To voice farmers' anger and frustration at the ever-increasing administrative burden being placed on them which has had a major impact on farm family incomes.::These frustrations have broadened into anger with European and National lawmakers over the massive increase in regulations relating to Agriculture. The EU, the Irish Government and local Government are devising policies far from the farm gate with little or no consideration of the direct impact on farmers.::The following are some of the key issues that are contributing to growing frustration and anger with the political system::1. The transformation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) away from supporting food production towards actually reducing farm output. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding is being redirected to environmental schemes – the EU is effectively implementing new environmental regulations such as the “eco-schemes” on the cheap by redirecting existing funding instead of allocating additional funds.::2

Details: Offaly County Council - Enough is Enough Campaign

Intent: Deferment of the introduction of the proposed Defective Concrete Products Levy by Government, pending a regulatory and economic impact analysis. Subsequently, exclusion of precast products entirely from the scope of the Defective Concrete Products Levy and agreement on transitionary measures to assist in compliance with the Defective Concrete Products Levy.

Details: Defective Concrete Products Levy

Intent: Increased access and participation for disabled people to public spaces and services

Details: Disability Participation & Access Fund Project - Accessible Offaly Project information and news

Intent: Accessible places and services in Offaly

Details: Offaly Disability Equality Network - Accessible Offaly Roundtable Consultation January 2023

Intent: To brief Members of the Oireachtas on the Nitrates Derogation::Member States must apply to the European Commission every four years to be granted a nitrates derogation. Strict criteria must be met in order to get a derogation. Member states must demonstrate that the higher stocking rate is justified based upon the presence of crops (including grass) with a high nitrogen uptake and a long growing season.::Ireland is ideally suited to demonstrate this given our unique system of outdoor, grass-based livestock production which is vastly different to livestock production systems across European Member States::Family farms that avail of a nitrates derogation must adhere to an additional suite of requirements. These include the submission of a fertiliser plan and an account of fertiliser purchases annually, environmental training, hedgerow management etc::In 2022 the Commission granted Ireland a derogation until the end of 2025. However, they attached a condition that the maximum stocking rat

Details: Nitrates Action Programme 2023 Review - Nitrates Derogation

Intent: To brief Oireachtas members on Water Quality in the context of the Nitrates Action Programme 2023

Details: Nitrates Action Programme 2023 Review - Water Quality

Intent: To ensure that, as set out in Food Vision 2030, there must be a balance between environmental, economic and social sustainability.::To ensure that rigorous assessments of all EU and national policy proposals are required to understand their impact on farm viability, the rural economy and social viability of rural area.::To highlight that IFA cannot support policies that negatively impact the livelihood of farm families and the economic and social sustainability of rural Ireland.

Details: IFA Thomond Park Declaration on Climate Action - Environmental, Social & Economic Sustainability