The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 May, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022

Specific Details Live Animal Transport

Intended results To highlight that the recommendations from the Committee of inquiry on animal transport (ANIT) in the European Parliament for live animal transport has the potential to severely impact the competitive trade in this country. To highlight that this approach is not acceptable and must be rejected by our MEPs when voted on in the full Parliament. To highlight that Irish farmers support and implement the highest welfare standards in the world and this includes the strictly controlled transport of animals. Seeking to change the rules because other countries fail to implement them is not acceptable. To highlight that the recommendations are based on the outcome of poor enforcement of regulatory requirements in some regions of the EU. Rather than focusing on better implementation, the Committee has put forward recommendations without scientific basis that penalise farmers in Ireland who implement transport measures that are equivalent to, or superior, to the existing requirements. To acknowledge the voting through of key amendments on animal transport in the European Parliament goes some way towards safeguarding competition in the cattle trade. To highlight that there is more to be done to convince legislators that we are meeting the highest standards. To acknowledge the work done by Irish MEPs to get backing in the European Parliament for the amendments. To highlight that it was vital that the key amendments were carried, but our campaign will continue. IFA will be working with others through COPA and our MEPs to build support for animal transport, given its critical role for Ireland as an island nation. To highlight that Irish farmers support and implement the highest welfare standards in the world and this includes the strictly controlled transport of animals. Seeking to change the rules because other countries fail to implement them is not acceptable.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Brendan Golden IFA Livestock Chairman, Aine O'Connell Dairy Policy 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)

Meeting (2-5)

Social Media (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.

Martin Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)