The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details IFA Key Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 Principles - Inspections/Penalties

Intended results That farmers must not be unduly disadvantaged, penalised or prone to increased on-farm inspections following direct/ indirect advances in available technologies, data collection or monitoring mechanisms, with the privacy and data protection rights of the farmer secure and protected at all times. The sharing or transfer of data from one data source to another, even within individual entities, is not permitted without the prior consent of the farmer That the level of ongoing monitoring of on-farm activities must be proportionate and similar to that afforded to other employment cohorts. That inspections should follow the Farmers Charter of Rights protocol, with all farmers, irrespective of whether inspected or not, provided with a detailed list of annual requirements for scheme participation. That there must be a degree of flexibility concerning on-farm inspections. Farmers must be allowed to reschedule or refuse an inspection (e.g. where serious illness, mental health, bereavement, etc, is evident) without disadvantage. There must exist a considerable ‘grace period' provided for farm families in such instances also against any future on-farm inspection, where the principal farm operator has recently endured serious illness, trauma or is deceased. That at least 48 hours' advance notice should be provided to both the farmer and planner in all instances, with the farmer/ agent provided with the same information the Department have when doing inspections. The ambition should be to achieve scheme compliance, rather than a revenue-generating exercise. A written summary of the inspection should be provided to the farmer before leaving the farm. That a streamlined appeals mechanism (including acknowledgement within defined timelines) should also be put in place, with all details provided to the farmer in advance, and adjudicated on in a timely and efficient manner. That farmers subject to an inspection and/or appeal should be subsequently paid promptly where appropriate. That any penalties applied to non-compliance must be proportionate and fair, with flexibility and common sense applied to genuine cases. A complete disregard of positive action undertaken and the application of a full potential 100% penalty on total yearly payments (plus potentially additional) is excessive. A ‘Yellow Card' system should apply before any formal penalty is applied, with a period to correct individual non-compliance required. That any recoupment of funds should be done only on agreement, with provision to arrange repayment across multiple years where necessary. No interest charge or penalty on such funds should apply. That, while not seeking to alleviate any mandatory or legislative responsibilities, farmers, through Social Conditionality and associated penalties, should not be disproportionately penalised relative to other economic groups in instances of non-compliance. Social Conditionality should be removed from the CAP.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy & Chief Economist, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Noel Banville IFA European 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

Mass communications

Letter All TDs

Submission All TDs

Letter All Senators

Submission All Senators

Letter All MEPs

Submission All MEPs

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Email (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Meeting (1)

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)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Health)

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 McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Michael Moynihan Minister of State (Department of Education)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

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

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Canney Minister of State (Department of Transport)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

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

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

Diarmuid Lynch Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)