The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 Jan, 2025

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Development and Zoning

Period 1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024

Specific Details Planning and Development Bill 2023

Intended results To acknowledge that in the current Bill the definition of Sufficient Interest which was contained in the Draft Bill has been maintained in the most recent version of the Bill in section 282 (1) which states "an applicant shall not be regarded as having sufficient interest in a matter to which a ground pleaded in part 9 judicial review proceedings relates unless the applicant is, or may be, directly or indirectly materially affected by the matter". To show concern that, despite this definition being replicated in the Bill as it stands, contained in the section that directly follows in the most recent version of the published Bill following the amendments made by the Committee Stage of the Seanad which includes the following element in Section 282 (2) Where part 9 Judicial Review proceedings relate to a development that is likely to have significant effects on the environment or on a European site, or to an act or omission by any person that contravenes a provision of this Act, or an enactment under this Act, relating to the environment, an applicant shall be regarded as having sufficient interest in a matter to which the proceedings relate (regardless of whether the applicant is, or may be, directly or indirectly materially affected). To highlight that this addition erodes any positive developments to date in strengthening the definition of sufficient interest for farmers who are applying for planning permissions and facing significant obstructions to the development of their farms on the basis of environmental concerns which lack legitimacy and substance. To stress that there is no significant mechanism to deter those wishing to obstruct on-farm development due to the ability of individuals who have no material or financial interest in the development to assert interest and obstruct planning procedures resulting in significant financial cost to farmers along with long delays in completing these developments. To propose that placing a maximum proximity requirement from the location of the development for the appellant would be of notable benefit in hindering appeals which are not genuine in their intentions.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, John Curran IFA Rural Development Chair, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Rachel Moloney IFA Policy Executive, Tom Treanor IFA Monaghan 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.

Letter (1)

Email (2-5)

Meeting (2-5)

Informal communication (2-5)

Social Media (1)

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)

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

Ciara Shaughnessy Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

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

Diarmuid Lynch Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Kevin Dillon Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Micheál Martin Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

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

Aidan Campbell Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Aoife McCooey Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Brian McKenna Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Cathy Bennett Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Colm Carthy Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

David Maxwell Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Hugh McElvaney Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Mary Kerr Conlon Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Noel Keelan Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

P.J. O'Hanlon Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Pat Treanor Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Paudge Connolly Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Peter Conlan Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Raymond Aughey Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Richard Truell Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Seamus Coyle Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Seamus Treanor Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Seán Conlon Councillor (Monaghan County Council)

Sean Gilliland Councillor (Monaghan County Council)