The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 May, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025

Specific Details Mercosur

Intended results To highlight that despite the political desire on behalf of the EU community to foster strong trading relationships with South America, this cannot be done at the cost of the Irish farm family sector, the Irish consumer, or the Irish economy. there are significant issues regarding standards and traceability and the issues of transport emissions. To reiterate the Irish farmers objection to the Mercosur deal. Irish and European farmers have clearly voiced their opposition to any conclusion of the Mercosur Trade Agreement. From recent bilateral engagement between the European Commission and Mercosur representatives, in addition to subsequent media commentary reflecting a clear desire to progress to a conclusion. It is felt by Irish farmers that our concerns are being minimised at the behest of an expedient resolution to the political agreement reached 5 years ago. As IFA President, I cannot accept thi To highlight that Irish farmers have protested in Dublin in 2011 outside the European Commission Offices and most recently EU farmers have protested in Brussels in early 2024; the voice of Irish and EU farmers is clear. • That there will be economic injury to the sector as a result of increased imports of tariff free quota of beef whose competitiveness is driven by a lack of reciprocity in production standards. • That the current addendum reflecting measures for implementation of environmental law does not provide sufficiently robust safeguards for European producers. • That there is an absence of a robust tracing system of indirect suppliers of beef cattle in Brazil. Cattle are not foreseen to be fully traceable there until 2032. The EU cannot conclude a trade deal with such divergence of basic standards. • That there is a lack of transparency surrounding cattle transfer permits in Brazil. This month the Brazilian environment protection agency IBAMA have imposed fines of R$365m (€59m) on farms and meat packers for raising or buying cattle on illegally deforested land in the Amazon. • That EU farmers expect the EU Deforestation Regulation to be implemented fairly. To urge the European Commission to consider the following Displacement of EU beef The economic argument supporting Irish farmers' demands are the most pressing. The high value EU steak market targeted by Mercosur beef exporters will impact EU producers' ability to achieve a positive return on the carcase as 30% of the value of the carcase is contained within the 8% yield of high value steak cuts. A tariff free quota of 99,000t translates into an additional 4m head of cattle (325kg average carcase) and correlates to a significant displacement of EU cattle. It is estimated that that this quantity of steak meat is equal to an 18% uplift in animals which will result in a displacement of EU product. If the steak cuts concerned were just one or two of the three main steak cuts (fillet, striploin and cube) this would lead to an even higher level of displacement and financial injury to Irish and European farmers. Cumulative Trade Impact The particularly generous UK-NZ/AUS quotas (e.g. 35,000t of duty free quota for beef imports from Australia rising to 110,000t by 2033) agreed since Brexit will disproportionally impact the Irish meat/beef sector and Irish farmers due both to our dependence on the UK market and our export dependence. This was not a consideration in the Mercosur political agreement of 2019. A disproportionate increase in the supply of steak cuts to the EU or the UK will depress EU steak prices and disproportionately reduce EU beef prices as a result of the 30% carcase steak value ratio that exists with high value cuts. No compensation fund will be sufficient to redress the medium to longer term impact of the beef quota in this Mercosur deal. To stress that the Irish Farmers Association does not support a Mercosur trade deal which continues to marginalise the vulnerable livestock sector while the European Commission continues to sell a deal on its merits for sectors outside of Agriculture. We ask you to listen and address our concerns in the manner of the engagement during the recent Strategic Dialogue which clearly states (p.47) that “impact assessments must include concrete and scientific comparison and mapping of production methods and standards as well as conclusions on their impact for agricultural producers, the environment, health, labour, animal welfare, the supply chain business and consumers in both EU and partner countries.” To attend the COPA Flash Action protest against the Mercosur Trade Deal and support the rejection of the EU/Mercosur Trade Deal. To emphasise that some EU countries see the urgent passing of the Mercosur Trade Deal as being important in the context of the tariffs imposed by the US on the EU. To show concern to learn that Ireland was not present at a meeting of countries who are concerned about Mercosur, which we understand was organised by France. To highlight that this seems to be at odds with the clear commitment in the Programme for Government 2025 Securing Ireland's Future that the Government will “work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.” To highlight that Irish farmers are hugely concerned about this apparent drift in the Government's position. To call on the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and his government colleagues to stand firm and unapologetic in their outright opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade deal for the future viability Irish suckler and beef farmers. To meet with the French Ambassador who assured us that the French remain opposed to a deal that would allow in more imports that do not meet our world-class standards. The Ambassador emphasised that the French President continues to voice his opposition to the deal because of the negative implications for European farmers.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Frank Brady IFA Regional Chair Ulster/North Leinster, Richard O'Brien IFA Westmeath Chair, John Sheridan IFA Longford Chair, Declan Hanrahan IFA Livestock Chair, Enda Bracken IFA Offaly, William Dolan IFA Regional Executive, Brendan Hickey IFA Offaly 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.

Meeting (6-10)

Informal communication (2-5)

Event / Reception (1)

Social Media (2-5)

Letter (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.

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon Minister of State (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)

Aodhan O'Riordain MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Carol Nolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Christopher O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)

Eoghan Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Imelda Goldsboro Senator (Seanad)

James O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jerry Buttimer Senator (Seanad)

John Clendennen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul O'Shea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Keira Keogh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ken O'Flynn TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kevin Boxer Moran TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kiera Keogh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Liam Quaide TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Martin Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Matt Shanahan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig Rice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat Buckley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patricia Stephenson Senator (Seanad)

Paul Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter 'Chap' Cleere TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seamus McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Gould TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tony McCormack TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Gleeson Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Simon Harris Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Jack O'Donnell Special Advisor to the Tanaiste (Department of Foreign Affairs)