The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 Jan, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024

Specific Details Non-Domestic Water Tariff

Intended results To highlight how the proposed increases in the non-domestic water tariffs will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable of farm families, extensive farmers on fragmented holdings with multiple water connections. To highlight that the latest Teagasc Farm Survey , which was published on the 23rd July, shows that farm incomes have declined further in 2023, with the average farm income now less than €20,000, a drop of 20% from 2022. While the average income of drystock farmers (those most impacted by the increased tariffs) was on average €7,500 with suckler farmer incomes now the lowest on record. To highlight that the reduction in farm incomes means that only 28% of farms in 2023 are viable, a sharp decline from 2022 when 43% of farms were viable. The financial viability is even more stark for extensive farming systems with only 11% of cattle rearing farms viable. To emphasise that one of the guiding principles of the tariff framework is that tariffs should be equitable and not unduly discriminate between customers. This is certainly not the case as the proposed increases nearly double the standing charges for water connections, which will place an excessive cost on farmers that use low volumes of water To highlight that the proposed increases come at a time when many farm families are under significant financial pressure. Given the economic vulnerability of these farms, the principle of full cost recovery is not justified. There are serious equity issues with the proposed increases, which need to be reviewed. To seek a meeting with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to discuss farmers' concerns with the proposed increases in non-domestic water tariffs.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, John Murphy IFA Environment Chair, Geraldine O'Sullivan 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

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

Email (2-5)

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.

Aodhan O'Riordain MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Bernard Durkan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

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

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

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

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Simon Harris Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)