The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Taxation Measures to Support Farm Viability, Succession, Transfer & Partnerships

Intended results To propose that existing stock reliefs should be extended to the end of 2027, with the general stock relief of 25% relief temporarily increased to 50% until 31st December 2025 to prevent tax issues for farmers in a year of high costs and poor cashflow. To propose that agriculture is removed from the commercial definition and revised in line with the residential stamp duty charge of 1%, up to €1m and 2% after that. To propose that the young trained farmer age limit should be increased from the current 35 to include all qualifying young trained farmers under 40 years of age at the execution of a transfer deed. To propose that,to increase uptake, the relief should be extended to a young farmer's off-farm income for three of the five years to allow the young farmer to invest some off-farm income to develop and expand the farm To propose that the percentage of farm assets a transferor must agree to transfer to the successor should be reduced. To propose that The age limit of 40 is retained for Succession Tax Credit. To support the commitment in the Programme for Government Our Shared Future to increase the Category A threshold (parent and child) from the current rate of €335,000 to €500,000. To propose that, due to changing demographics and family structures, the Favourite Nephew or Niece Relief should be extended to a Favourite Successor Relief, allowing the farm to be gifted to someone in a better position to continue farming the land. The movement from Category B/C threshold to Category A would allow for less tax liability the farm's sustainability and promoting land mobility. To propose that no age limit requirements should be imposed on farmers seeking relief when transferring land between generations. To propose that, to avail of Agricultural Relief, the transferor, transferee, or a combination of both, must pass the active farmer test set out under the current Agricultural relief clause for a minimum of 15 years. To propose that, where the above condition is met, to avail of Agricultural relief, the retention period of the individual receiving the gift or inheritance remains at six years. To propose that, with effect from the passing of the legislation, where an investor purchases land; the retention period of the individual receiving the gift or inheritance should be increased from six to 15 years in respect of a claim for agricultural relief. To propose that, in addition, when land is purchased by an investor, any periods when land is leased to an active farmer do not count towards the retention period. To propose that indexation relief should be restored and extended to include periods of ownership post 2002. To propose that, if a landowner wishes to sell land to a long-term tenant, then the CGT Entrepreneur relief of 10% should apply to incentivise support for the genuine farmer and give the long-term tenant a preferred status. To propose that agricultural land that is subject to Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) should not be categorised as ‘development' land and should still qualify for CGT Entrepreneur relief. Farmers cannot be disadvantaged by the State's decision to initiate a CPO. To propose that the lifetime limit of €1m on the CGT Entrepreneur relief should be increased in Budget 2025. The enhancement of CGT Entrepreneur Relief is an important measure to encourage risk-taking, investment, and the subsequent disposal of business assets during an individual's lifetime. To propose that the interaction between the two CGT reliefs should be removed allowing both reliefs to operate separately. An individual should be able to avail, in full, of the CGT Entrepreneur Relief and the CGT Retirement Relief over the course of their lifetime, subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions of each relie To propose that, to encourage the transfer of a family farm into joint ownership at the time of inter-generational transfer, IFA believes that 90% Agricultural Relief should apply where the farm is transferred into joint names and where the 80% asset test and the active farming requirement is satisfied by either spouse. To propose that, where a farmer has owned and used an asset for ten years and the asset is transferred into joint names, the transferee spouse should inherit the same time ownership and usage status. To propose that the rate of Class S PRSI is retained at existing levels.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Bill O'Keeffe IFA Farm Business Chair, Robert Malone IFA Senior 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

Mass communications

Letter All Senators

Submission All Senators

Letter All TDs

Submission All TDs

Email All Councillors

Submission All Councillors

Letter All MEPs

Submission All MEPs

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Submission (1)

Email (2-5)

Informal communication (2-5)

Meeting (6-10)

Social Media (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.

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

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Finance)

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

Simon Harris An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Micheál Martin Tánaiste and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Fiona O'Connor Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Sam Griffin Adviser to Minister (Department of Finance)

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

Colm Burke Minister of State (Department of Health)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)

James Browne Minister of State (Department of Justice)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Joe O'Brien Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciaran Cannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Hildegarde Naughton Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Kyne Senator (Seanad)

Ollie Crowe Senator (Seanad)

Pauline O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Elena Secas Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Martina Kinane Councillor (Galway County Council)

Alan Tobin Councillor (Meath County Council)

Annemarie "Shiner" Ryan Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Joy Beard Councillor (Donegal County Council)

Lumi Panaite Fahey Councillor (Kildare County Council)

Johnny Healy-Rae Councillor (Kerry County Council)

William Durkan Councillor (Kildare County Council)

Ciarán Fisher Councillor (Louth County council)

Elisa O'Donovan Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

John Reilly Councillor (Louth County council)

Sharon Tolan Councillor (Meath County Council)

Frank Staples Councillor (Wexford County Council)

Andrea McKevitt Councillor (Louth County council)

Seamus McGrath Councillor (Cork County Council)

Fintan Phelan Councillor (Carlow County Council)

Geraldine Donohue Councillor (Galway County Council)

Edel Mcsharry Councillor (Sligo County Council)

Niall Collins Minister of State (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

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

Violet Anne Wynne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)

Timmy Dooley Senator (Seanad)

Paddy Burke Senator (Seanad)

Pa Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Joe Carey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Róisín Garvey Senator (Seanad)

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

Joeanne Bailey Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)

Michael Lowry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen 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)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)