The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 16 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Nature Restoration Law

Intended results To question the lack of clarity on how the law will be financed when implemented. To highlight the impact of the Nature Restoration Law on Natura 2000 farmers and, as years progress, all farmers. To highlight the lack of an economic impact statement to understand how the law will effect on-farm production choices. To question the inclusion of non-deterioration in Article 4 of the Nature Restoration Law. To highlight that the move by Minister Eamon Ryan to lead a campaign of 11 EU countries to have the Nature Restoration Law approved by the EU Council in June is ill-judged. To emphasise that farmers would continue to participate in schemes to improve biodiversity, but are completely opposed to the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law on a number of fronts. 1. Dealing with this issue through a law is wrong. We are told it will all be voluntary, but that is not consistent with introducing a legal requirement 2. It is important that those farming within Natura 2000 sites are not over burdened with the requirements to restore habitats and that agricultural activity in these areas, specifically those referenced in Article 4 of the document, is allowed to continue. 3. There needs to be proper funding and a full impact assessment completed. These are essential, but they are still outstanding. To highlight that it was always likely that the Nature Restoration Law would pass once the EU elections were over. Farmers will see the post-trilogue stalling of this law by Member States as a piece of pre-election political theatre. To highlight that the approach by the Commission to bring in a law in this area rather than a properly- funded, EU-wide, voluntary scheme is totally wrong. The reality is that there is a huge amount of uncertainty about how this law is going to be interpreted at Member State level To stress that no national impact assessment has been carried out and we have no idea how it will impact on food production, and ultimately on food security. The Irish Government was wrong to support the introduction of this law without the completion of an impact assessment and a dedicated budget to support its implementation. To emphasise that a huge of amount of work is now needed on how this law will be implemented in Ireland. I want to make it clear that IFA will not stand for farmers' property rights or their right to farm their land being undermined

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, John Murphy IFA Environment Chair, Liam Gilligan, Leitrim Co. Chr., Liam Gallagher, Leitrim Co. Secretary, James Gallagher, Leitrim Rural Development Chair, Stephen Canavan IFA Galway Chair, Sean McKeon, IFA Regional Executive, Roy O'Brien IFA Regional 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.

Email (2-5)

Submission (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Meeting (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.

Brendan Barry Councillor (Leitrim County Council)

Cathal Berry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis Naughten TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eamonn Ryan Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Felim Gurn Councillor (Leitrim County Council)

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

Marian Harkin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Shanahan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Lowry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paddy O'Rourke Councillor (Leitrim County Council)

Padraig Fallon Councillor (Leitrim County Council)

Peadar Tóibín TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Fitzpatrick TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sean Canney Minister of State (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Seán McGowan Councillor (Leitrim County Council)

Verona Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aodhan O'Riordain MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)