Irish Beef and Lamb Association (IBLA)

Lobbying Organisation Irish Beef and Lamb Association

Date published 20 Apr, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024

Specific Details ICBF index changes

Intended results Text message to minister McConologue Asking him to revert back to the star index ratings from pre Nov ‘2023 as the changes have a detrimental effect on suckler and Pedigree breeders in Ireland. These show cattle will become a thing of the past with all the new ICBF changes. Farmers and Pedigree Breeders have suffered significant losses overnight due to ICBF just rushing this through without sufficient consultation. To have clarification in writing on how many service providers were received to carry out this task (which ICBF currently have) for the Dept of Agri. To insure our collected national herd data past and present is held securely by ICBF in relation to the national herd. IBLA are seeking clarification from the public accounts committee on how funds for services carried out by ICBF were awarded and did it follow proper public procurement procedures. How long the contract run for? What is the scope of services provided? Was applications for tenders advertised publicly. To ask the Minister on How many beef breed cows from the twelve main breeds have had their star ratings decreased from the values directly before and subsequent to the introduction of revised ICBF beef indexes published in November 2023. Should probably include the breeding value more so than star rating as by default the star rating is split evenly across the 5 different stars - so for 1 to go down another has to rise. Question the value range for each star category for old and new assessment. The IBLA wish to challenge efforts by the dairy industry to affect the index changes as the Irish suckler herds asset value has been seriously devalued. Ibla wishes to get clarification on how the board members on icbf are selected and by what means. What expenses and remuneration are the board members of icbf permitted to claim. Also we seek clarification on the structure of the pedigree board and are they following the proper rules of governance around how many Agm’s are held so that they fully represent their members fully when they sit on the ICBF board of directors who have made significant index changes which devalued the industry.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity John O Reilly, Rory Slattery, Padraig Cunningham, Gerry Pilkington, Dermot O Brian, Kieran Deleney,

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.

Informal communication (2-5)

To inform them about Stakeholders meeting in Tullamore.

Email (1)

PQ for the minister of Agriculture by Michael McNamara TD on 30-01-24.

Email (1)

PQ to the Minister for Agriculture by Claire Kerrane TD emailed on 03-02-2024.

Email (1)

From Gerry Pilkington to Brian Stanley TD Chairman of theon 22-01-24 public accounts committee.

Email (1)

From Gerry Pilkington 22-01-24 to Michael Fitzmorris TD to ask the Minister for Agriculture.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Zoom meeting held on 13-February 2024 between Dermot O Brian and Luke Ming Flanagan MEP.

Phone call (1)

Phone call between Jackie Cathay and Kieran to seek clarification on IBLA getting to the Agri committee to discuss ICBF indexes changes among other issues.

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.

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

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McNamara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)