The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Jan, 2017

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2016 to 31 Dec, 2016

Specific Details Budget 2017 - IFA Submission to Government on Expenditure

Intended results Agri-Environment Schemes - GLAS - that funding of €250m is allocated for agri-environment schemes in Budget 2017, with full payments for all GLAS, AEOS and oranic scheme participants Areas of Natural Constraints - that funding is increased by €25m in Budget 2017, to €225m, This should commence the process to restore ANC payments to pre-2008 levels Targeted direct support for the sheep sector - that the €25m commitment in the Programme for Government for a targeted sheep scheme is introduced in Budget 2017 and that the scheme is simple and effective, with minimal costs and bureaucracy on farmers, so as to maximise its benefits. Beef Data and Genomics Programme - that this programme is reopened in 2016 to target increased direct support for the suckler cow sector of €200/cow, this would require additional funding of €25m. TAMS II - in order to meet the expected demand for on-farm investment, funding of €50m must be allocated to the TAMS II programme in 2017 Knowledge Transfer - that funding of €30m is allocated for Knowledge Transfer programmes for farmers across all sectors Producer Organisations - that the Department of Agriculture provide funding to assist farmers with the costs associated with the establishment, start up activities, and on-going running costs of producer organisations Annual funding of €8m for the Scheme of investment aid for the development of the Commercial horticulture sector is required, due to increased investment commitments to meet sustainability standards. This scheme must also be expanded to include potatoes, specifically a targeted scheme of investment to support the development of salad, seed potatoes and potatoes for the fresh chip market. Compensation must be provided for the disposal of ash plants in the amenity horticulture sector, which has been negatively affected by the closure of markets due to the Ash-Dieback disease. Animal Health - A properly funded Deer Management Programme, including targeted resources where deer are associated with TB breakdowns. - Increased funding allocation for the TB Eradication Programme to reduce costs for farmers maintaining calves on-farm and offsetting costs due to the prohibition on purchasing in animals - Funding for a Department of Agriculture administered National IBR programme to safeguard access to our vital exports markets - Increased funding for the BVD programme, recognising the extra costs incurred by farmers in repeat testing - Strengthening of financial supports for the Johnes pilot programme, to encourage participation - Increased funding and resources to upgrade the service provided to farmers in the Regional Veterinary Laboratories Animal Health – Irish Equine Centre - that the state contribution for research funding for the Irish Equine Centre of €1m over a three year period is maintained. Forestry - Funding for a 7,000 ha planting programme - Funding for existing forest owner groups to realise the economic potential of private forest resource - Funding of the Forest Road Scheme should be increased to cover the cost of the road construction and support mobilisation of private forest resource - Funding for small scale harvesting and processing equipment to facilitate the mobilisation of non-commercial scale forests - Funding for the establishment of a forestry forum to increase transparency in the supply chain and achieve the timber production forecasts. Aquaculture - that the grant aid provided by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), administered by BIM, must be targeted on measures that deliver more seafood for a growing market. SAC payments - that additional funding of €5m must be allocated to the NPWS in Budget 2017 to pay farmers where restrictions to farming result from land designation. Fair Deal Scheme – Means Assessment of farm assets - that the contribution to the cost of care under the Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme must be immediately reviewed and must be proportionate to the ability to pay of the family farm. This would allow farm families to make the most appropriate decisions in meeting the cost of care. Farm Assist - that, in the forthcoming review of Farm Assist, the income and child disregards that were fully abolished in Budgets 2012 and 2013 must be reinstated. In addition, IFA believes that support similar to the Family Income Supplement should be introduced for farm families whose incomes are low, but above the Farm Assist threshold. Rural Social Scheme (RSS) - that the number of places in the RSS is increased from its current number of 2,600 to 4,000. Eligibility to partake in the RSS must be flexible to cater for farmers whose incomes, while low, are above the threshold for Farm Assist. Walks Scheme - that, as per the commitment in the Programme for Government, the number of walks covered by the scheme must be increased to 80 and that the allocation is increased from €2m to €4m in Budget 2017.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Joe Healy IFA President, Joe Brady IFA Rural Development Chairman, Bryan Barry Acting General Secretary

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? To lobby all Oireachtas Members on IFA's Budget 2017 Submission

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All Oireachtas Members Letter with a copy of IFA's 2017 Budget Submission

Email All Oireachtas Members Letter of invitation to IFA Lobbying Day on IFA 2017 Budget Submission

Submission All Oireachtas Members

Email All Oireachtas Members Reminder of IFA Lobbying Day on IFA 2017 Budget Submission

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

Meeting with Ministers Noonan and Donohoe Meeting with Minister Creed

Submission (1)

Lobby day (1)

National Lobby Day

Meeting (21-30)

Phone call (51-100)

Calls to TDs and Senators

Social Media (21-30)

Email (21-30)

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.

Gerry Adams TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bobby Aylward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Brassil TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Declan Breathnach TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat Breen Minister of State (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sean Canney Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Pat Casey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Shane Cassells TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Cowen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael W. D'Arcy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat Deering TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pearse Doherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Regina Doherty Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Timmy Dooley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Andrew Doyle Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Peter Fitzpatrick TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charles Flanagan Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Pat the Cope Gallagher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Harty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Danny Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Heydon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht)

Paul Kehoe Minister of State (Department of Defence)

Billy Kelleher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Kyne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc MacSharry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Helen McEntee Minister of State (Department of Health)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tony McLoughlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kevin "Boxer" Moran TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eugene Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis Naughten Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tom Neville TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Darragh O'Brien TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Fergus O'Dowd TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kevin O'Keeffe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Willie Penrose TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maurice Quinlivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Stanton Minister of State (Department of Justice and Equality)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ray Butler Senator (Seanad)

Maria Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Paudie Coffey Senator (Seanad)

Paul Coghlan Senator (Seanad)

Mark Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Frank Feighan Senator (Seanad)

Maura Hopkins Senator (Seanad)

Terry Leyden Senator (Seanad)

Joe O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Diarmuid Wilson Senator (Seanad)

Jim Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Ferris TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niall Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy Minister of State (Department of Health)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lisa Chambers TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Aidan O'Driscoll Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Paul Dillon Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Michael Creed Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Enda Kenny Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Jim O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy MEP (European Parliament)

Róisín Shortall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)