The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 16 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Environment

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details EUNature Restoration Law

Intended results To highlight the impact of the proposed Nature Restoration Law by the European Union, which will enact legally binding targets on Ireland, up until the year 2050, across a broad range of ecosystems, from agricultural land and forests, to rivers and marine habitats, to meet our restoration targets and obligations and how farmers will be the most impacted by the outcome of this Law. To highlight how, as agricultural land accounts for approximately 67% of Ireland's total land area and forests account for approximately 11% of the total land area, the proposed regulation will have far reaching consequences for Irish agriculture. It is vital a full impact assessment is undertaken to quantify the area of farmland that will be affected to ensure that the proposed targets are realistic and fair and are not detrimental to the continuity of farming in Ireland. To emphasise how the lack of clarity in relation to the some of the proposed measures and the potential impact on farmland and production is a source of serious concern for farmers and rural communities, particularly in the midlands and west where the proposed targets on restoring drained peatlands could have a serious bearing on production. To stress how, as the negotiations proceed at EU level, it is vital that the three pillars of sustainability-economic, social and environmental - are equally taken into account. To seek assurances that there will be a balance of interests, without giving priority to any single aspect. The impact on food security, and on food and timber production as well as farmers standard of living must be fully considered. As farmers as custodians of the environment, they are the "boots on the ground" to maintain and enhance biodiversity on their farms. It is, therefore, critical that any measures that are to be undertaken are of a voluntary nature and full prior agreement of farmers To challenge the statement from Minister for the Environment failing to rule out the use of compulsory purchase orders (CPO's) as a means of achieving the targets in the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law which has confirmed farmers' fears that the Minister wants to confiscate land under the cover of the proposed law. To participate in a Public meeting to discuss the impending EU Nature Restoration Regulation law. To discuss the different proposals on the table regarding the extensive regulations coming from the EU.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Pat Murphy IFA Connacht Regional Chair, Paul O'Brien IFA Environment Chair, Geraldine O'Sullivan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Thomas Lane IFA Clare County Chair, Willian Dolan IFA Regional Executive, John Fitzpatrick IFA Laois County Chair, Baden Powell IFA Tipperary North Chair, Patrick Egan IFA Mayo Rural Development Chair, Laura Boyd IFA Donegal Rural Development Chair

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (21-30)

Social Media (11-20)

Submission (2-5)

Phone call (6-10)

Meeting (6-10)

Virtual Meeting (1)

Informal communication (6-10)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Haugh Director of Services or Equivalent (Clare County Council)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bernard Durkan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Hayes MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bríd Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Carmel Kirby Director of Services or Equivalent (Clare County Council)

Carol Nolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Berry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Martin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charles Flanagan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Charlie McConalogue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Chris Andrews TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Christopher O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cian O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciaran Cannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Brophy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Cormac Devlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Damien English TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Danny Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Darragh O'Brien TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Darren O'Rourke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Stanton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Denis Naughten TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Denise Mitchell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dessie Ellis TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Duncan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eamon Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eddie Fitzpatrick Councillor (Offaly County Council)

Emer Higgins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eoin Ó Broin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fergus O'Dowd TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Francis Noel Duffy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frank Feighan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ged Nash TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gino Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Hannah Hamilton Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Heather Humphreys TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Helen McEntee TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Imelda Munster TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jack Chambers TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jan O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jason Murphy Acting Director of Service (Clare County Council)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Whitmore TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jim O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joan Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Carey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Killeen Councillor (Clare County Council)

Joe McHugh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe O'Brien TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Brady TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Leahy Councillor (Offaly County Council)

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Guirke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Josepha Madigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Leo Varadkar TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leonard Cleary Director of Services or Equivalent (Clare County Council)

Liam Conneally Director of Services or Equivalent (Clare County Council)

Lisa Chambers Senator (Seanad)

Louise O'Reilly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Mairéad Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Noonan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Malcolm Noonan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc MacSharry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Marian Harkin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mark Hackett Councillor (Offaly County Council)

Mark Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)

Martin Heydon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Shanahan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maurice Quinlivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Creed TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Lowry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McNamara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Barry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Neale Richmond TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niall Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noeleen Fitzgerald Head of Finance (Clare County Council)

Norma Foley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ossian Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pa Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Padráig Mac Lochlainn TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat 'the cope' Gallagher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat Buckley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat Dowling Chief Executive Officer (Clare County Council)

Patricia Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick O'Donovan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Donnelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul McAuliffe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Murphy Councillor (Clare County Council)

Paul Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline Tully TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peadar Tóibín TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pearse Doherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Fitzpatrick TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Réada Cronin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Boyd Barrett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Bruton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Roderic O'Gorman TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Róisín Garvey Senator (Seanad)

Róisín Shorthall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Haughey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Harris TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Stephen Donnelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Steven Matthews TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Gould TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Timmy Dooley Senator (Seanad)

Tom O'Callaghan Councillor (Clare County Council)

Verona Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Violet Anne Wynne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Willie O'Dea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Noonan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Hannah Hamilton Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)