Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024
Specific Details
Pig Housing under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).
Intended results
To express Irish pig farmers deep disappointment with the unacceptable lack of progress on the specifications for pig housing under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS). This matter has dragged on far too long, leaving farmers in a very difficult position as they anxiously wait to implement actionable changes that are both necessary and expected.
To highlight that many farmers out of sheer frustration and necessity are now proceeding to upgrade their housing facilities without using TAMS funding. This is a failure of the department to Irish pig farmers. Since the publication of the revised specifications in April 2022, which were deemed totally unworkable by the industry, no farmer has availed of this funding outside of the typical items. This is a glaring anomaly that underscores the urgent need for an updated and practical scheme.
To call again on the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine for immediate action on this front. To ask, yet again, that they engage directly with the Teagasc Pig Development Department at all stages to ensure that the revised scheme is one which farmers can implement practically with workable specifications. Such a scheme must improve conditions on commercial pig farms and secondly ensure that Irish pig producers can remain competitive on a global marketplace.
To emphasise that specifications that exceed those adopted by our competing Member States are simply not viable or acceptable. This critical issue was emphasised at many meetings over the past 2 years and yet again during the recent Pig Food Vision meeting. At the meeting it was agreed that Teagasc should be in regular contact with the Department and go over the proposed specifications so that they could address any issues that may arise from the revised draft prior to its publication.
To highlight that the 2025 DG Sante audit looms and it is imperative that tangible progress is shown by presenting a TAMS scheme that farmers will embrace. Focusing solely on the level of participation in the intact tails audit is not good enough. Pig producers now need and want to update their facilities. The department are depriving them of the opportunity to utilise TAMS funds because workable specifications are still not available.
The TAMS specifications and available funds are an integral necessity which should be readily available for farmers to engage with and utilise. The lack of any progress at farm level is significantly the responsibility of the department, whose unworkable specifications and inaction, must bear most of the blame.
To urge the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to prioritise this matter, and provide an update without further delay.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Roy Gallie IFA Pig Chair, Sarah Hanley IFA Pig 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.
Informal communication (2-5)
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.
Amii McKeever
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Brendan Gleeson
Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)