The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 15 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details Bovine TB - Spring Lobbying 2025

Intended results That the Minister must meet with IFA to agree on and implement a consistent and adequately resourced TB scheme, including dealing with infected wildlife, in all counties. To highlight that this is an issue that requires urgent and meaningful actions to be brought back under control, but these actions must be well thought out, have a robust scientific basis and quantifiable in the contribution they will make to reducing TB levels. That the measures and the entirety of the programme must have transparent KPI's that allow real time monitoring of effectiveness in reducing TB levels and where not contributing to these targets there must be flexibility within the programme to have them removed. All measures in the programme must refer to and identify the scientific studies that informed their inclusion in the programme. That, while there is an urgency to enhance the programme, it should not be at the expense of the time necessary to identify the most appropriate and effective measures that have the minimal impact possible on the day-to-day management of our farms and the trading of our animals. To highlight that, the revised set of proposals presented by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine reflect a number of the issues IFA had raised previously and with some minor amendments to the majority of those proposals IFA believe there is potential reach a fair and reasonable consensus on the way forward to address the current TB levels. To highlight that there are three proposals, relating to herd categorisation and extended restrictions that IFA remain opposed to as was outlined at a recent meeting. To outline the specific issues and amendments that are important to the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine's latest set of proposals to ensure farmers can support the TB programme that the Minister will be implementing on farms. To stress that staff resources and funding to implement the TB programme are currently an impediment to the programme on the ground and will be the limiting factor of the effectiveness of any new programme To insist that a firm commitment from the Minister that the staffing levels required at all levels in the Department of Agriculture, including FRS operatives, to implement an efficient and effective programme will be provided. To insist that existing support schemes, On Farm Market Valuation, Income Supplement, Hardship Grant and Depopulation Grant must all be reviewed and updated to better support farmers. This must commence with the immediate removal of the arbitrary ceiling that Department of Agriculture officials apply to the OFMV scheme of €3,000 for any individual animal €5,000 for stock bulls and pedigree females. The OFMV due to the imposition of these ceilings and the increase in the value of all animals that has occurred is no longer fulfilling its function in the scheme, these ceilings must be removed. That, as it is likely new controls will be imposed on farmers in the new TB programme, these must be impact assessed at farm level and fully supported, this may require new lines of financial support for farmers in existing or newly developed schemes. That farmers are only liable to pay for one TB test in the calendar year and at no shorter interval than 10 months, this must be enshrined in the new TB programme and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine must ensure no farmer is exposed to any additional testing costs. That it is also important to focus on areas within the current programme where the burden on farmers can be reduced, enhancements to the programme should not all be just about tightening controls and restrictions on farmers. In IFA's original submission to the TB Forum, factory lesion restricted herds are proven to be a very low risk of having any further TB infected animals, approx. 85% of these herds do not disclose further reactors in the two 60-day tests that take place. The length and type of restriction in these herds must be shortened in line with IFA original proposals to the Minister and the TB forum.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Alice Doyle IFA Deputy President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy & Chief Economist, Patrick McCormick IFA Treasurer, TJ Maher IFA Animal Health Chair, Brendan Hickey IFA Kilkenny Chair, Paul O'Brien, IFA South Leinster Chair and Jackie Whelan Fagan, IFA Regional Executive, Joe Sweeney IFA Donegal Chair, Baden Powell IFA Tipperary North 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 (11-20)

Email (11-20)

Informal communication (6-10)

Phone call (6-10)

Social Media (11-20)

Letter (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 Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Brennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Cathy Bennett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Christopher O'Sullivan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke Minister of State (Department of Health)

Conor Sheehan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)

David Maxwell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eamon Scanlon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)

Eoghan Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Garret Ahearn Senator (Seanad)

George Lawlor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor Minister of State (Department of Health)

Jerry Buttimer Senator (Seanad)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Cummins Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

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

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Malcolm Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Noonan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maria Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Martin Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Mary Butler Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niall Collins Minister of State (Department of Justice and Equality)

Noel McCarthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Padráig Mac Lochlainn TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Paraic Brady Senator (Seanad)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Pearse Doherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Robbie Gallagher Senator (Seanad)

Ryan O'Meara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sarah O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Seamus McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Byrne Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)

Verona Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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