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 Climate Action Plan 2022

Intended results To discuss Climate Action To highlight that Irish Farmers are fully committed to playing their part in reducing emissions. This must be achievable without undermining the economic and social viability of the family farm. To agree a Climate Action Plan for the farming sector and to ensure that Government help farmers to achieve the 2030 targets by not doing damage to the sector to meet short-term targets. To Highlight that Irish farmers are well placed to produce food in an environmentally efficient manner while continuing to reduce emissions but this cannot be at the expense of farmers' livliehoods or by reducing output. To highlight that The Food Vision group reports were not agreed by IFA To clarify that IFA is willing to engage further to try and find agreement around a Climate Action Plan for the sector. To point out that there is a real danger that the Minister and the Government are going to do real damage to the sector to meet a short-term target, while technological advancements in the sector could well help us achieve our 2030 targets To point out that changes to the Nitrates derogation, since the Food Vision Groups were established, will impact output, cow numbers and will have unintended consequences for every sector as it is already driving up prices for land rental.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Brian Rushe IFA Deputy President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy/Chief Economist

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 (6-10)

Informal communication (6-10)

Email (6-10)

Letter (1)

Social Media (2-5)

Phone call (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.

Leo Varadkar An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Cassidy Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

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

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sarah O'Neill Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Pippa Hackett Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Heydon Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

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

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

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

Sinead McPhilips Assistant Secretary (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)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Darren O'Rourke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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