Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

Lobbying Organisation Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

Date published 21 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details during the negotiations on the programme for government, the RGFI lobbied on the opportunities and potential to decarbonise agriculture and agri food, beverages and biopharma industries with AD biomethane being a key enabler, utilising animal slurry, rotation and catch crops, and mixed pasture swards increasing crop production from 6t DM to 15t DM with 1/3rd the nitrogen, can be replaced by bio fertiliser from the AD plant, delivering fully decarbonised crop production, enhancing biodiversity

Intended results Highlight the needs of agri food industry to decarbonise the full supply chain, proposed measures are aligned with EGD Farm to fork strategy, the environmental & economic benefits are very positive & achievable to meet the EGD target of 25% Increase in organic farm practices and land management measures. AD Biomethane can deliver 2.6 Mt CO2 eq/yr savings in energy & a further 9.1 Mt CO2 eq/yr decarbonising agriculture, 50% reduction in agriculture emissions, accounted in scope 3 emissions

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity PJ McCarthy

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)

The activities of RGFI during the PfG negotiations is to promoting AD Biomethane to avail of a unique solution to deal with the biggest challenge of our time, the business development proposal can decarbonise heat/thermal demand and also decarbonise agriculture production with increased production and reduce the scope 3 emissions in the agri food, beverages and biopharma industries, all at the lowest cost and least disruptive to respective sectors. These proposed measures are complimentary to existing farming disciplines practices, opportunities for increased and diverse incomes to farmers and provide much needed stimulus to rural economy, deliver sustainable and competitive solutions to the agri sector. the agri food, beverages and biopharma industries have mandatory targets to decabonise , with investment decisions being made based on current policy support and policy direction from the Irish government. EU ETS sector companies are required to comply with Paris Agreement from Jan'21

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.

Pippa Hackett Senator (Seanad)

Malcolm Noonan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eamon Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Martin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)