Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024
Specific Details
IFA Manifesto for European Parliament Elections 2024 - Designated Area Payments
Intended results
To highlight how economic burdens and bureaucracy are strangling farmers across Ireland and the EU. Farmers need a period of predictability and stability in the years ahead. It is imperative to ensure that new EU strategies and legislative projects are based on science and high -quality impact assessments at Member State level, with maximum subsidiarity provided towards its implementation.
To emphasise that additional resources need to be afforded to the Farm Plan Scheme, with increased payment rates offered to reflect the additional costs and burdens on farmers, and flexibility provided that it can operate alongside other agri-environmental schemes where additional land is held. There needs to be a full review of the internal operating dynamic surrounding designations, compensation, and applications for actions requiring consent (ARCs) as the existing is not fit for purpose.
To propose that, in consultation with IFA, a full review of the internal operating dynamic surrounding designations, compensation and applications for actions requiring consent (ARC's) is required because the existing is not fit for purpose.
To propose that no further restrictions should apply to designated lands. Instead increased support (advisory; financial etc) should be provided and agricultural activity allowed to continue.
To propose that the Farm Plan scheme should be reopened and operate alongside other agri-environmental schemes, to include all farmers who are farming on land which is designated.
To propose that additional funding should be allocated to the national Parks and Wildlife Service ( NPWS) farm plan scheme to pay farmers where, due to designation of land, restrictions are imposed on farming and lands significantly devalued.
To propose that all designated area payments must be independent of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds with payment period matching, in full, the designation period
To propose that a new 'Farming for Habitat and Farming for Species' payment needs to be introduced to maximise environmental gain and compensate farmers who suffered a loss in income when the Hen Harrier; Pearl Mussel; Burren Schemes ended.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy and Chief Economist, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement
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
Mass communications
Submission All Senators
Letter All Senators
Submission All TDs
Letter All TDs
Submission All MEPs
Letter All MEPs
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (6-10)
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.
Darragh O'Brien
Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)
James Browne
Minister of State (Department of Justice)
Joe O'Brien
Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)
Michael McGrath
Minister (Department of Finance)
Micheál Martin
Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)
Roderic O'Gorman
Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)
Malcolm Noonan
Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)