The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 21 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details IFA National Council - Tanaiste's Address on Brexit

Intended results To highlight that Irish farmers’ interests lie in maintaining full access and frictionless trade both North/South and East/West between Ireland and Britain, while retaining the full value of the UK market To highlight that on the Withdrawal Agreement - with up to 90% agreed, including the financial settlement, citizens’ rights and a “stand still” transition period that will run from 29th March 2019 until end December 2020 (or possibly to end December 2021) - the outstanding issues are the most difficult and they are crucial for the future prospects of Irish farmers and our food industry. Those issues are the Irish border and the future EU-UK trading relationship. On the Back-Stop - to relay the IFA position that a guarantee that cross-border trade would continue, as it does today, with no physical infrastructure and no related checks or controls is vital. That is the backstop commitment. There can be no back-sliding on the backstop and no time limit. On the future EU-UK relationship, IFA wants to see Ireland and the EU having the closest possible trading relationship with the UK in the future. To put IFA's concerns on the record - Our position is that we want no hard border on the island of Ireland, no border in the Irish Sea and no scope for the UK to pursue a cheap food policy For this to happen, the UK needs to abandon its intentions to pursue a cheap food policy and commit to full ongoing alignment with the EU common external tariff, trade policy and standards for agri-food products. The EU cannot agree to anything in the Withdrawal Agreement or political declaration that would allow the UK undermine the Single Market To set out the need to prepare for all possible scenarios in the Brexit negotiations, that farmers will require Government and EU support measures, depending on developments. This includes direct income aid to farmers in the event of further Sterling devaluation - any fall in Sterling beyond 90p would be disastrous for producers. Depending on the outcome of the negotiations, a special purpose fund will be required to offset the negative impacts from Brexit. The financial commitment must be scalable and sufficient to deal with any eventuality, from a ‘soft’ Brexit up to a ‘no deal’ scenario. This would provide scope for direct producer sectoral and targeted supports, basic payment top-ups and emergency market supports, as may be necessary. That farmers may also require structural and adjustment support measures to cope with the additional costs and long-term devaluation of returns from the UK market.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Joe Healy IFA President

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 (6-10)

Phone call (2-5)

Event / Reception (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

Social Media (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.

Simon Coveney Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Caitríona Fitzpatrick Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Pat Deering TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)

Willie Penrose TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn Senator (Seanad)

Michelle Mulherin Senator (Seanad)

Ian Marshall Senator (Seanad)