The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 14 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Slievenamon County Tipperary Wildfires

Intended results To invite local representatives to a public meeting concerning the Slievenamon wildfires and the future management of the mountain and surrounding lands. To highlight how the recent wildfires have had a significant impact on farmers, landowners and the wider community. To emphasise how important it is that South Tipperary TDs and local Councillors have an opportunity to hear directly from those affected, understand the concerns and challenges they are facing, and engage in the discussion on the future management of Slievenamon and measures to help prevent and mitigate future wildfires. To seek assurance from the Minister for Agriculture that the farmers who are legitimately farming on Slievenamon will not be penalised as a consequence of the fires when they had no responsibility for causing them. To highlight to the Minister that farmers played a key role in limiting the resultant damage to the uplands, forests, habitats, wildlife and property. To highlight that the farmers who graze and manage Slievenamon play an important role in the long-term management of the mountain and should not face restrictions, financial penalties or reductions in payments or other consequences arising from a wildfire out of their control. To emphasise that any review of the future management of Slievenamon following the recent fires must include meaningful consultation with the farmers who actively farm the hill and their farming representatives.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Paraic Stapleton IFA Forestry Chair, James Gallagher IFA Hill Farming Chair, Amy Mulchrone IFA Policy Executive, Darragh Scott IFA South Tipperary 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.

Email (2-5)

Event / Reception (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

Letter (1)

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.

Andy Maloney Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Annemarie "Shiner" Ryan Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Declan Burgess Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

John Crosse Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

John Fitzgerald Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

John O'Heney Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Kieran Bourke Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Liam Browne Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Máirín McGrath Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Marie Murphy Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Mark Fitzgerald Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

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

Mary Hanna Hourigan Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Anglim Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Niall Dennehy Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Pat English Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Richie Molloy Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Roger Kennedy Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Seamus Healy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Siobhan Ambrose Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Tom Acheson Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

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

Brian Purcell Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture and the Marine)