Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025
Specific Details
IFA Event - CAP to 2030 & Beyond
Intended results
To provide key insights into the development of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the future direction of the overall EU budget, as determined by the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
To highlight that there are only two parts in play with the CAP Budget the budget that is available, and how that funding is spent supporting farmers.
To stress that, for farmers to have confidence in the process, there has to be real and meaningful engagement with farmers and their democratically elected representative bodies across Europe.
To demonstrate that the EU Commission appears to be pushing ahead with their ‘single fund approach' to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) rather than having a designated CAP budget.
To highlight that, over recent decades, we have seen the undermining of the CAP with budget cuts; no allowance for inflation; and forcing farmers to do more and more for less and less. Now the EU Commission President is proposing to put a knife through the heart of the CAP.
To strongly express that if this budget structure is approved it would be the end of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
This will undermine;
1. funding for schemes at farm level;
2. impact on the rural economy;
3. shatter the confidence of the next generation who are thinking of getting into farming;
4. damage confidence in the entire European project
To highlight that the next CAP must support food production.
That we need less regulation. We are already facing a barrage of rules and conditions from the CAP and a cocktail of other laws, regulations and directives. These have to be reduced or eliminated.
That the funding has to recognise the cost of doing business for the years ahead and the schemes must work at farm level.
That a proper environment scheme that works in tandem with food production and that works for farmers and avoids delays in payments is required. We cannot have another shambles like ACRES.
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 & Chief Economist, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs
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 (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.
Barry Cassidy
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Brian Purcell
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Evie Sammon
Councillor (Kildare County Council)
Martin Heydon
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Paraic Brady
Senator (Seanad)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Tracey O'Dwyer
Councillor (Kildare County Council)