The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 21 Sep, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2021 to 31 Aug, 2021

Specific Details Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Minimise the impact of the Eco-scheme on farmers' Basic Payment

Intended results That the Minister immediately outlines details of his proposed Eco-schemes for Irish farmers and let them know what is going to be asked of them in the next CAP. To seek that the impact of Eco-Schemes on farmers' basis payment is minimised. To seek that Member States with a high level of environmental schemes (Pillar II) can reduce the percentage ring fence allocation to Eco Schemes in Pillar I. • The EU Commission has proposed that a minimum of 20% Pillar 1 payments go to eco-schemes while the European Parliament has proposed 30%. The EU is also proposing that eco-schemes be paid as a flat-rate payment per hectare and there is a risk that ecoschemes measures will be based on ‘cost incurred/income foregone' basis which effectively eliminate the value of the eco-scheme payments to the farmer • IFA is extremely concerned about the impact of these proposed eco-schemes on farm incomes. Accordingly, the Minister for Agriculture must ensure that the minimum possible deduction is made from Pillar 1 for these schemes. • The Minister must also strongly support the EU Council proposal to allow Member States who have a high level of environmental schemes as part of Pillar 2, to reduce the percentage allocated to eco-schemes under Pillar 1. • Irish farmers already have very strong credentials on agri-environmental measures. 33% of Ireland's land is farmed under AgriEnvironmental Climate Measures compared with an average of 13.4% across the EU-27 member states. More acknowledgement should be given of the level of actions undertaken by Irish farmers to date. • Active farmers whose businesses are more impacted by eco-schemes participation should be rewarded with higher eco-schemes payments. This approach will maximise the number of farmers who participate in eco-schemes. At an absolute minimum, each active farmer must have the opportunity to get back what is being deducted from them for eco-schemes.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Liam MacHale Brussels Director

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? To lobby all Oireachtas members on IFA's key objectives for the upcoming CAP Reform negotiations in Brussels.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All TDs

Submission All TDs

Letter All Senators

Submission All Senators

Email All MEPs

Submission All MEPs

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Virtual Meeting (6-10)

Social Media (11-20)

Email (2-5)

Phone call (2-5)

Damian spoke to Brendan Gleeson.

Meeting (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.

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Peter Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Heydon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)

Verona Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

James O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Violet Anne Wynne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mairead McGuinness MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcom Noonan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Creed TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Donohoe Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

Regina Doherty Senator (Seanad)

Caroline Dwane Stanley Councillor (Laois County Council)

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Niall Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Willie O'Dea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick O'Donovan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Padráig Mac Lochlainn TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Pauline Tully TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robbie Gallagher Senator (Seanad)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John McGahon Senator (Seanad)

Fergus O'Dowd TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lisa Chambers TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciaran Cannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Kyne Senator (Seanad)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Gleeson Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Robbie Gallagher Senator (Seanad)

Heather Humphreys TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)