The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 May, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024

Specific Details Nature Restoration Law (NRL)

Intended results To appeal to Irish MEP's to support a 'No' vote on the Nature Restoration Law. While amendments have been made to the original proposal, there remains real and genuine concern among farmers, in particularly those operating on Hill and Natura 2000 sites, that there will be significant ramifications from passing this law in this proposed format. To highlight that there is still a lot of ambiguity around what the law will mean, and with no impact assessment undertaken at Member State level, the impact on farm incomes, food production and farming practices is unclear. To emphasise that farmers operating on designated lands cannot endure any further restrictions on farming practices. Adequate compensation, independent of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), must be provided to farmers for their endeavour and any lost income and/or asset value arising from this legislation. False promises were made in the past to farmers operating in designated areas. This must be rectified in first instance, and the same mistake avoided at all costs. To seek a meeting with Irish MEP's to discuss concerns further. To meet with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to seek his support of Irish farmers' objections to the Nature Restoration Law in its current format.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Alice Doyle IFA Deputy President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Frank Brady IFA SAC Project Team Chair, Noel Banville IFA Brussels Policy Executive, 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.

Letter (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

Email (2-5)

Meeting (2-5)

Social Media (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.

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cassidy Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Martin Heydon Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Michael Collins Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Philip O'Callaghan Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)