The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Mercosur

Intended results To highlight that beef farmers will expect our MEPs to be steadfast in their opposition to a trade deal that would have very damaging consequences for the sector. From the point next month when they formally take their seats, they will have to keep a close eye on negotiations. To point out that the Irish beef sector accounted for €2.7bn of our food exports last year. With 100,000 beef farmers, it is the largest farming sector in the country and has an economic impact in every parish in rural Ireland. To emphasise that there's a strong case for unity on Mercosur. “The impact of a negative trade deal would be felt beyond the farmgate, with processing and upstream value hit by any decision to allow more imports. To propose that the new European Parliament acts as a bulwark against the Commission plans, which appear to ignore the devastating impact of beef production in Brazil, while at the same time imposing greater regulations on beef farmers in Ireland. The next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is already taking shape, has to re-set its aims to better support beef production. To highlight that, while there is no doubting the value of the beef sector to the Irish economy, incomes remain under pressure. Both beef and suckler farmers will be looking to the national Budget in October, and the next CAP, to underpin their incomes with strong supports

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Declan Hanrahan IFA Livestock Chair

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 (1)

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.

Aodhan O'Riordain MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)