Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Sports and Recreation
Period
1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025
Specific Details
Greenways
Intended results
To outline the serious concerns of farmers and landowners in respect of many issues in relation to Greenways.
To highlight an important issue of concern to IFA which arose at the Oireachtas Committee with TII. TII were asked a specific question in relation to whether or not the issues of concern to farmers and landowners on Greenways raised during the first session of the Committee meeting, were raised last year at the annual review of the Code of Practice by TII.
The TII Chief Executive specifically stated that “the issues didn't arise in last year's review meeting” i.e. they were not raised. This is misleading and not an accurate reflection of what occurred at the 2024 review of the Code of Practice.
To note under paragraph 4 on the TII letter, there is a clear reference to the use of state owned lands, which was raised by the IFA at the review meeting in the context of a debate on the use of state owned lands versus private lands for Greenways. This was a key issue raised at the Oireachtas Committee meeting today.
To highlight that there is reference to legislative and regulatory requirements, which is a clear reference to Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO's), which was raised by the IFA at the review meeting.
That, under paragraph 5 of the TII letter, there is a clear reference to the severance of farms. Again, this issue was raised by the IFA at the review meeting and again this was a key issue at the Oireachtas Committee meeting today. Paragraph 5 also raised issues regarding route selection complexities.
That, also under paragraph 5 in the TII letter, there is a clear reference to accommodation works. This was raised by the IFA at the review meeting and again also was a key issue at the Oireachtas Committee meeting today.
To highlight that it is clear from the TII letter that many of the key issues on Greenways (use of public lands instead of private lands, CPOs, severance, accommodation works and many other issues) were raised by the IFA with TII at the review meeting on the Code of Best Practice on 7th November 2024.
To emphasise that IFA dispute the statement at the Oireachtas Committee meeting today that “the issues didn't arise at the review”. IFA believe this to be inaccurate and misleading to the members of the Committee and the wider public. IFA requests that the Committee is informed regarding the correct and accurate position on the TII review meeting of 7th November 2024,.
To stress that IFA believe that it is very important that an accurate account of the TII review meeting on Greenways is provided to the Committee and the wider public.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Paul O'Brien IFA Infrastructure Project Team Chair, Geraldine O'Sullivan IFA Senior Policy 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.
Cathal Crowe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Emer Currie
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Grace Boland
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Imelda Goldsboro
Senator (Seanad)
Joanne Collins
Senator (Seanad)
Lorraine Clifford-Lee
Senator (Seanad)
Louis O'Hara
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Mark Duffy
Senator (Seanad)
Michael Collins
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Murphy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Nessa Cosgrove
Senator (Seanad)
Pa Daly
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Roderic O'Gorman
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Shane Moynihan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)