The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Solar Panels

Intended results To emphasise that now that Smart Metering is being rolled out nationally, this should enable farms that produce excess energy from solar installations to export to the grid (outside of the MSS and RESS schemes) and to receive remuneration from their electricity supplier for any excess energy exported. This would deliver a realistic payback period on more solar installations and encourage more farmers to install solar on farms. To question why the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine applied to the European Commission to secure funding for solar panels on Irish farms under Rural Development measure 4.1, which prohibits farmers from selling excess solar-generated electricity into the national grid instead, of measures 4.3, 6 and 7 which would have allowed farmers to sell excess electricity at a profit. To highlight that the business case for solar is compelling, with farmers availing of a reliable system, which will help to reduce their input costs and achieve an attractive payback on their capital costs. To welcome the Government's decision to extend the existing Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) - operated Non-Domestic Microgeneration Scheme to include a broader range of potential applicants. To highlight that, if the scheme is to work, a whole of Government approach is needed. The ambitious climate change targets set out by Government must be matched with schemes with the correct supports and processes that make them appealing to farmers. To call for dedicated renewables budgets and the removal of the remaining barriers to adoption. These include; easy and quick access to the national grid;a dedicated renewables budget for farmers; and a major awareness campaign by the Government and its agencies to promote the benefits of solar and other renewable technologies. To highlight how the Solar Capital Investment Scheme which sits under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) is not logical as the solar grants are being delayed because other grants with the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) need to be decided upon by the Department. To highlight that the lack of transparent information about the scheme and how the Department plans to manage the high levels of applications raises concerns about the Government,s genuine intent to promote sustainable practices within the agricultural sector.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paul O'Brien IFA Environment Chair, James Kelly IFA Director of Organisation

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)

Letter (1)

Social Media (6-10)

Event / Reception (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.

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Martin Browne 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)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)