The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Taxation

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT)

Intended results To highlight the need for exemption to be provided for actively farmed land against the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT). To insist that the promises made by Senior Government officials in the Dáil must be delivered, and farm families proteced. To highlight that the precedent is there from the Vacant Site Levy to exclude farm land from the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) To express disappointment regarding the proposed changes in the Finance Bill around Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) as it will mean that the majority of actively farmed land, with the possible exception of small amounts in strategic reserve would be liable for this tax. To highlight that, although the proposed amendments state an opportunity is to be granted to affected farmers where they can request their local authority to dezone land which appears on a draft revised map which is to be published on 1st February 2024, the vast majority of farmers who have previously requested their local authorities for their land to dezoned have had their requests refused. Many appealed to An Bord Pleanala and the decision of the local authorities was upheld. To recommend that the "fix", that was indicated in the Dáil, including from Government Ministers and the Taoiseach, be put in place that would see all actively farmed land removed from the tax, or at the very least any farmer who requests to have their land dezoned would have that request granted automatically, and not have to undertake the same process again of requesting such through their local authority. To insist that genuinely farmed land is exempt from this tax. To highlight that many of the farmers who will be adversely affected by the RZLT have already gone through the process of requesting dezoning and / or an exemption to this tax to their local authority and An Bord Pleanála. In the majority of instances, these requests have been refused. There is a fear among this group that from the reading of the Finance Bill 2023 any new application will result in the same outcome. To request a meeting with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to seek a workable solution.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Karol Kissane IFA Senior Policy Executive, Rose Mary McDonagh Farm Business Chair, John O'Hanlon IFA Regional 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.

Event / Reception (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Email (2-5)

Letter (1)

Virtual Meeting (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.

Amii McKeever Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Michael Collins Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Carrigy Senator (Seanad)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Burke Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)

Sean Fleming Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan 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)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Finance)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Fiona O'Connor Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Grant Sweetnam Special Adviser (Department of Finance)