The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) - Tranche 2

Intended results To express the need for all interested parties to be accepted into the Agri-Climate Environment Scheme (ACRES). To highlight challenges for farmers, there is huge uncertainty created by the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) 6 grazing requirements of catch crops. Farmers should not be penalised for not meeting Agric-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) requirements because they are now meeting the Good Agricultural Environmental Condition (GAEC)6 requirements. To request an extension date for a number of Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) measures to 30th September as a consequence of delayed sowing and heavy soil conditions. To insist that Tranche 2 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) opens as soon as possible, and for all interested farmers to be approved. To highlight the dissatisfaction of farmers on how the Good Agriculture and Environmental Condition (GAEC) 6 scheme was handled and the huge uncertainty and negative market sentiment that arose as a consequence. To emphasise that maximum flexibility must apply in 2023 and that farmers cannot be penalised because regulations were introduced/changed mid-stream. To highlight that the list for Non Productive Investments and Landscape Actions, a key payment for Agri-Climate Environment Scheme (ACRES) Co-Operation farmers, still is not open for application, this has resulted in a minimum of €3,500 below what many farmers in these areas would have expected and budgeted for this year. To highlight that the 3-week application window in Tranche 2, which has now opened, is very tight and will make it difficult for farmers and planners to get applications fully completed and in on time. To insist that the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine must find the necessary funding to accommodate all eligible applicants. There cannot be limitations by target participants in the Common Agricultural Strategic Plan (CAP), particularly when the demand is there for more farmers to get involved. The ambition of farmers in wanting to achieve environmental targets must be matched by adequate resources. To insist that all ACRES CP farmers who applied in Tranche 1 receive their 2023 advance payment before Christmas. The delay in this payment will have a serious financial impact on many farm families, particularly those in vulnerable areas.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Michael Biggins IFA Rural Development Chair, James Gallagher IFA Rural Development Vice-Chair, Caillin Conneely IFA Hill Farming Chair, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Rachel Moloney IFA Policy Executive

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.

Meeting (1)

Email (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Phone call (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

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.

Amii McKeever Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Carrigy Senator (Seanad)

Paddy Farrell Councillor (Leitrim County Council)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Savage Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Peter Burke Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)

Pippa Hackett Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Violet Anne Wynne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)