Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2026 to 30 Apr, 2026
Specific Details
Food Vision 2030
Intended results
To participate in the Food Vision 2023 Stakeholder meeting. IFA feeDback to DAFM:
To focus on farmer experience with Bord Bia audits.
To establish a farmer forum on the Quality Assurance Scheme to improve farmer engagement and two-way feedback on the work of Bord Bia.
To recommend a dedicated information campaign with stakeholder input, to better inform the general public about Origin Green and Quality Assurance Schemes and that means for consumers in Ireland and elsewhere.
To support the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marines initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink and the understanding of labelling and food information for consumer requirements.
To question proposals circulated following the industry and farmer stakeholder meeting
1. To revisit the focus on farmer experiences with audits, as we move towards the end of the criteria review process in the Technical Advisory Committees (TAC).
- IFA has consistently sought Bord Bia to adapt the audit process to improved overall farmer experience. We have provided feedback of farmer frustration with the audit process on multiple occasions during the TAC process in particular the level of questioning of farmers, and the duplicity of much of the audit.
- It is therefore positive to note that Bord Bia are now committing to take on board this feedback.
- A key focus of any revisit should be the introduction of a risk-based audit approach that ensures that audit times are reduced and that aspects found compliant in previous audits are excluded.
2. To establish a farmer forum on Quality Assurance (QA) schemes to improve farmer engagement and two-way feedback on the work of Bord Bia.
- The forum should include a review of the TAC process for the development of non-farmer QA schemes/standard to ensure there is farmer representation included going forward.
- The forum should also review potential overreach of the use of Bord Bia Quality Assurance (QA) schemes such as the requirement to be a member of a QA scheme to participate in the Suckler Cow Efficiency Programme (SCEP) or the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH).
3. To proposes a dedicated information campaign, with stakeholder input, to better inform the general public about the Origin Green and Quality Assurance schemes and what that means for consumers in Ireland and elsewhere.
- A full examination of Origin Green should be undertaken that encompasses how the Origin Green standard is used both at farmer, processor, food service, and retailer levels.
- In particular, this should also consider if it is acceptable for a food business to be a member of Origin Green while choosing not to participate in a Bord Bia Quality Assurance scheme they are eligible for.
That the commitment made that the Department will undertake an initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink and understanding of labelling and food information for the consumer requirements. This initiative should also encompass the following
1. Engagement with retailers to ensure that Bord Bia Quality Assurance schemes are the only QA schemes required by retailers for produce destined for the Irish domestic market. Retailers requesting additional/alternative certification undermines Bord Bia's existing farmer QA schemes.
2. Expansion of origin labelling to include all meats (chicken, pork and lamb) in addition to beef. This should be implemented via Statutory Instrument (SI) similar to the current approach for beef thus requiring country of origin labelling to be clearly displayed for all meats at both retail and food service outlets nationwide.
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
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.
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.
Barry Cassidy
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Brian Purcell
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Jim O'Toole
Chief Executive Officer (Bord Bia)
Martin Heydon
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Sinead McPhillips
Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)