The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Jan, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022

Specific Details Nature Restoration Targets

Intended results To highlight how the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) proposals on Nature Restoration Targets are extremely ambitious and would remove significant areas of land from active agricultural production. The effect on farmers and the wider rural community needs to be better understood before legally binding targets are introduced. Restoration of Agricultural Ecosystems Targets EU Nature Restoration Law - The proposed Nature Restoration law1, is a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy. The proposed regulation will require each Member State to develop a national restoration plan to clearly identify restoration measures, which together cover at least 20% of the EU's land and sea area by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. Under the regulation, the European Union will enact legally binding targets upon Ireland, up until the year 2050. -Under the regulation for farmland habitats, it proposes to increase (i) grassland butterflies and farmland birds, (ii) the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soils, and (iii) the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features, restoring drained peatlands under agricultural use. - In relation to drained peatlands under agricultural use it sets a target to restore to satisfactory levels 30% by 2030 (of which a 7.5% will be rewetted), 50% by 2040 (of which 25% will to be rewetted) and 70% by 2050 (of which 35% will to be rewetted). -Ireland's National Inventory Report 2020 estimates that there are 330,000 hectares of drained grassland on organic (peat) soils. However, recent work by Teagasc2 indicates that the area of grassland on drained peat soils could be 450,000 hectares. Taking the estimated area of drained peatland under agriculture use to be 450,000 hectares, under the proposals over 135,000 hectares would need to be restored to satisfactory levels of which approx. 34,000 hectares would need to be rewetted by 2030. This would increase to over 315,000 hectares (equivalent to 7% of Ireland's utilisable agricultural area) to be restored to satisfactory levels, of which approximately 157,500 will require to be rewetted by 2050. It is important to note that many farming enterprises take place on drained peatland, including drystock, dairy and tillage. Comprehensive Restorations Targets for Farmland Habitats - In addition to specific restoration measures for agricultural ecosystems, there are more comprehensive restoration targets encompassing habitats and ecosystems which have been designated as in “bad” condition due to the reasoning of the Habitats Directive. Farmers will be legally required to put in place restoration measures to improve to good condition areas of habitat types which are not in good condition. - By 2030, measures shall be put in place on at least 30% of the area of each group of habitat types listed below that is not in good condition, increasing to at least 60% by 2040, and at least 90% by 2050. The habitat types include (i) wetlands (ii) grassland and other pastoral habitats (iii) rivers, lakes and riparian habitats (iv) forests (v) heath and scrub habitats (vi) rocky and dune habitats. - Furthermore, farmers will be required to re-establish these habitat types to reach the total favourable reference area of each group of habitat types. Such measures shall be in place on areas representing at least 30% of each group of habitat types by 2030, at least 60% by 2040, and 100% by 2050. Lack of visibility on impact on farmland It is unclear as to the estimated area that will be covered by restoration measures, let alone the farmland areas that will be directly impacted. It is essential that we carry out a prior assessment of exactly how many hectares of agricultural land, forestry, and watercourses will be covered by this proposed regulation. A further thorough analysis should also cover the effects on the direct and indirect costs, impacts on food and energy security, and the continuing supply of forest products and services. Farmer engagement - As the proposed restoration measures will primarily take place on farmland, it is essential that farmers are fully engaged in the creation of any targets, especially those of a legally binding nature, which will have a direct impact on the viability of their farm. Before a legally binding target is set, it is imperative that the targets proposed are realistic and fair and are not detrimental to the continuity of farming in Ireland. New funding outside of CAP needed - Lack of financing has been identified as a key failure in the EU meeting its 2020 biodiversity targets. The proposal lacks clear and long-term financial support for nature restoration, with the majority of this expected to come from the CAP funding. Restoration can only be achieved if it is not dependent on the CAP budget; and is funded through a dedicated financial mechanism for biodiversity and restoration. Long-term restoration requires long-term resources, not short-term measures. It is necessary that restoration is funded through a dedicated financial mechanism Farmers must be fully compensated - Farmers whose land or farming practices are impacted because of constraints imposed that increase management costs or impact production must be compensated based on the income foregone as a result of the measure. It is essential that an independent arbitration scheme is developed as part of the national restoration plan to determine the loss of value to the farm business caused by the measures, and an associated budget allocated. Property rights must be respected - It is imperative that the property rights of farmers affected by the targets are not adversely affected. All measures must be voluntary and only implemented in full agreement with the farmer. As restoration will primarily take place on farmland, it can only be achieved with their full backing.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Paul O'Brien IFA Environment Chair, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Geraldine O'Sullivan IFA Environment Senior Policy Executive, Edel McEvoy IFA Policy Executivetmeath Chair, John O' Hanlon IFA RE, Liam McHale IFA Director of European Affairs

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.

Meeting (1)

Submission (1)

Social Media (2-5)

Informal communication (2-5)

Letter (1)

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.

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Browne 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)

Marian Harkin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Carol Nolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Danny Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Burke Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

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

Colm Hayes Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Bill Callanan Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Sinead McPhilips Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Martin Blake Chief Veterinary Officer (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Paul Dillon Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

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

Declan O'Rourke Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)