The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Nitrates Derogation - Meeting with EU Commissioner in Brussels

Intended results To highlight that the criteria set out in Article 12 to assess water quality trends is deeply flawed. In June 2023 IFA provided a detailed submission to the Commission outlining these failings. Once again, we ask that the assessment criteria be reconsidered to ensure that only areas where a stocking rate reduction will have a tangible impact on water quality are subjected to the Article 12 decision. That the assessment required as set out in Article 12 requires the assessment of the eutrophic status of water bodies and, where this assessment finds water bodies that are at risk of becoming eutrophic, a reduction in organic nitrogen allowances is applied to all farmers in the entire catchment. That our analysis of the stations that showed worsening trends in eutrophic status indicates that there are pressures in addition to agricultural practices such as presence of raw sewage, inadequate wastewater inadequate wastewater treatment facilities, and the presence of invasive species. Reducing organic Nitrogen allowances in these areas is very unlikely to improve its trend in eutrophic status due to the presence of more significant pressures. That the crude approach of reducing organic nitrogen allowances will have a minimal impact on water quality but will have a hugely disruptive impact on Ireland's agricultural land market. This will impact most significantly on smaller farms who may not have the financial returns to compete in the land market. In August, IFA put forward alternative measures that, in our view, will achieve the same positive impact on water quality but would not have the same disruptive impact on Irish farming. To highlight that the vast majority of dairy cows farmed in Ireland calve and commence their lactating season in Spring (February to April), are put in-calf in Summer (May to July) and are dried off in Winter (November to January) to make the best use of our grass growing season (February to November). Since the map outlining the areas to be farmed under a maximum organic N allowance of 220kgN/ha was only finalised in October 2023, it was impossible for farmers to know their position at the time of putting their cows in calf. As a consequence, these cows are now heavily in calf. Due to fears around nitrate cuts there is very little market demand for pregnant cows and heifers in Ireland at present. This will leave potentially impacted farmers with little alternative but to slaughter pregnant animals in order to comply with the nitrates cut being imposed. This is not an acceptable situation in our view. To insist on a date for the EU Commissioner to come to Ireland and meet with the Government regarding the Nitrates Derogation.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy & Chief Economist, Áine O'Connell IFA Senior Policy Executive, Noel Banville IFA Brussels 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.

Letter (2-5)

Submission (2-5)

Meeting (1)

Informal communication (1)

Email (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.

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

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)

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

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)

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

Philip O'Callaghan Deputy Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)