The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 May, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025

Specific Details Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Payments

Intended results To highlight that the farmers in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Co-Operation, based on information to hand, that close on one in four ACRES participants, or c. 14,000 farmers, are still waiting on their advance 2024 ACRES payments, with hundreds having only received interim payments in February/March last year. To emphasise that communication/direct engagement from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with impacted farmers has been very unsatisfactory, with numerous commitments not delivered on. Urgent action is now required. To propose that the IT issues and scheme complexity that are responsible for these delays must be resolved as a matter of priority. Anything less is a failure on the part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. To propose that strong consideration should be given to the provision of interim payments, similar to last year, for impacted farmers. To suggest that the IFA suggested improvements, provided through the ACRES review consultation, should be strongly considered for immediate implementation. That waiting to consider them as possible learnings for the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programme is unacceptable. To stress that the issues of costs arising from Storm Eowyn further underlines the need for all farmers to be paid urgently. To insist that the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine makes immediate ACRES payment. To highlight that the Minister announcing in recent days that it will be the end of June before everyone is sorted is nothing short of an insult, especially for those waiting on their full 2023 payments. To emphasise that farmers deserve better, and certainly they shouldn't be left in complete limbo, unable to get any confirmation or clarification from DAFM on what's holding up their individual payments, or when it's expected to land into their accounts. To meet with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine to express disappointment at the delay in ACRES payments to farmers.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Alice Doyle IFA Deputy President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy & Chief Economist, Brendan Golden IFA Connacht Chair, John Curran IFA Rural Development Chair, Caillin Conneely IFA Hill Farming Chair, Frank Brady IFA Regional Chair Ulster/North Leinster, Richard O'Brien IFA Westmeath, John Sheridan IFA Longford Chair, Stephen Canavan IFA Galway Chair, Enda Bracken Offaly IFA Vice Chair, William Dolan 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.

Meeting (6-10)

Social Media (2-5)

Informal communication (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.

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Albert Dolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cassidy Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

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

Brian Stanley 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)

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Imelda Goldsboro Senator (Seanad)

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

Jerry Buttimer Senator (Seanad)

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

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Healy-Rae Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Carrigy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Noel Grealish Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Noel McCarthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Pádraig Rice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Thomas Gould TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Timmy Dooley Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

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)