Intent: To highlight that the Cork to Kerry Greenway project is seriously struggling because it is failing to meet the Greenway Code of Practice and it does not have adequate community support.::To highlight that Cork County Council is now proposing to divide the proposed Greenway into three different sections because they cannot find a way to develop the full project end-to-end and have placed a section in abeyance. This approach is incompatible with the consultation process undertaken with the public to date and is not in line with the Greenway Code of Practice.::To call on the Council to go back to the drawing board and recognise that the proposed Cork to Kinsale Greenway is not fit for purpose; fails to meet the Greenway code and Government strategy on Greenways; and lacks the necessary community support.::To emphasise that, based on the public consultation number three undertaken last year, 60% of 2,000 respondents outlined their opposition to the Greenway.::The main points of opposition
Intent: That Cork County Council supports the current independent governance review of Bord Bia, and that the Chair is stepping aside from meetings pending the outcome.
Intent: To voice anger and frustration at the ever-increasing administrative burden being placed on them which has had a major impact on farm family incomes.::1. The transformation of CAP away from supporting food production towards actually reducing farm output. 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. The failure of the EU to properly compensate farmers under CAP. In 2014, Ireland received €1.16bn in Pillar one funding from EU – that figure is effectively the same today, 10 years on, despite huge inflation in farmers' cost of production in the interim. Farmers are being asked to do much more to receive a lot less funds in real terms.::3. The proposed Mercusor trade deal being pushed by the European Commission has the capacity to devastate, in particular, the Irish beef sector. Europe is placing a
Details: Cork County Council - Enough is Enough Campaign
Intent: To highlight the flaws in the 220KGN/ha as opposed to the 250kgN/ha.::That IFA propose a 2 year trend assessment::Two data points are insufficient to establish a trend and it ignores the influence of lag times.::To highlight how the 2 year review ignores recently introduced measures::2018 - 50% Slurry by 15 June and Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS)::2020 - Training in Nutrient Use Efficiency, Sustainable farming, Grassland Management/Budget.::2021 - Farm roadway camber away from water, Exclude cattle 1.5m from watercourse, water troughs 20m from watercourse.::2022 - 10% cut in chemical N, Soiled water closed period, Slurry spread by 8th October, Tillage green cover, Plough Grassland only between 1st March and 31st May, Increased inspections - 10%.::2023 - Soiled Water closed period - 21 days, All slurry spread by 1st October, N excretion rate based on Milk Yield, Chemical N purchases register.::2024 - Soiled Water closed period - December::To highlight how the 2 year review will im
Details: Nitrates Derogation - Maintaining the derogation at 250kg N/ha
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
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
Intent: To brief Oireachtas Members of the details of the current Nitrates Action Programme::The EU Nitrates Directive requires Member States to review water quality at least every four years and to create a Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). This programme outlines a suite of requirements that farmers must adhere to and is reviewed every four years.The fifth NAP was introduced in 2022::It includes additional measures such as a reduced inorganic fertiliser allowance, longer closed periods for spreading slurry, fertiliser and soiled water and greater adoption of low emission slurry spreading (LESS) equipment. It also outlines the maximum number of animals that can be present on farms based on the amount of nitrogen they excrete in a year.::This is capped at 170kg organic manure nitrogen/ha or in the case of farmers who are granted a nitrate derogation 250kg/N/ha.
