The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 21 May, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2020 to 30 Apr, 2020

Specific Details Programme for Government - IFA Priorities for farming and rural Ireland in any new Programme

Intended results To highlight that there is a severe income crisis across most of the main farming sectors, driven by unviable prices below the cost of production, high input costs and reducing direct payments. Tackling the farm income crisis and spreading economic recovery to rural Ireland must be to the fore in any agreed Programme for a new Government. CAP/MFF; We need a strong Irish Government in place to fight for an increased CAP budget to at least cover inflation and the costs of any additional asks on farmers. Once EU budget is decided, the Irish Government will be required to co-finance certain programmes and schemes. The Government must fund these to the maximum extent allowable under the CAP and state aid rules. In 2019, CAP delivered over €1.8bn to Irish farmers. After the next reform, this figure must exceed €2bn. Brexit . Secure a future EU-UK trading relationship which gives us continued tariff free access to the UK market and which does not result in the UK importing cheap or sub-standard product from outside of Europe. For losses arising from no-deal at the end of 2020 or from the reduced value of the UK market if a bad deal is reached, the EU must provide a Brexit fund of €1bn or more if necessary in market support measures to include direct supports for farmers, BEAM The BEAM scheme which compensated some beef farmers only applied to animals supplied before May 12th 2019. A second BEAM scheme is needed for farmers who supplied cattle after this date, without the unnecessary restrictions of BEAM I. Climate Action Future action for the sector, as set out by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action is based on the implementation of Teagasc's 2030 climate roadmap . Climate Action cont'd To deliver this IFA propose that Teagasc fully cost the implementation of the measures proposed; A budget, from non-CAP resources is created by Government and ring-fenced for farmers to deliver the actions of the Teagasc climate roadmap; An implementation group, which includes IFA, relevant Government Departments and State Agencies is established to drive the delivery of the measures proposed. Renewables Irish farmers have huge potential to provide renewable energy. . We need an immediate and coherent plan to put farm-scale and community-based renewables at the centre of Government policy. The emphasis should be on carbon efficiency, environmental and economic sustainability and not on reducing cattle numbers. Nitrates Derogation Farmers who farm in derogation, farm to more stringent environmental requirements and contribute over €900m to the rural economy. The Government must retain the nitrates derogation. Live Exports As an island nation, we must be able to continue to export live animals. This is vital to ensure competition. The next Government must have a clear plan to grow live exports, not limit them. Food Chain - The Government also needs to address the imbalance in the food chain which is driving farmers out of business. We urgently need an independent food retail regulator whose remit must include tackling below cost selling, unsustainable discounting and misleading retail labelling and branding. Fair Deal Scheme The Fair Deal Scheme is fundamentally unfair for farmers. The new Government needs to move on the promised legislation as a top priority and its effects must be retrospective. Aquaculture The Government must set out an implementation plan that priorities and gives clear timelines for each recommendation in the Review of the Aquaculture Licensing Process. Introduction of €30 sheep payment, increased in Sheep Welfare Payment to €15 in the next Budget. All exixting schemes be rolled over to coincide with the formation of the new CAP e.g. Sheep Welfare, GLAS , Young Faremrs, etc

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan, 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.

Letter (6-10)

Email (6-10)

Meeting (2-5)

Informal communication (11-20)

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.

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eamon Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)

Paddy Burke Senator (Seanad)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frank Feighan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc MacSharry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mairéad Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline Tully TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Violet Anne Wynne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis Naughten TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Shanahan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Fitzpatrick TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Berry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Philip O'Callaghan Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Ian Marshall Senator (Seanad)

Verona Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe Minister of State (Department of Defence)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)

Malcolm Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)