Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2026 to 30 Apr, 2026
Specific Details
Bluetongue
Intended results
To highlight that, although the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine has resolved some of the issues affecting live trade, it must ensure all international trade certs are amended so animals from Ireland can continue to be exported to these countries.
To stress that most EU Member States with BTV 3 have overcome the issues with live exports through bilateral trade arrangements. This is helpful and ensures this vital trade can continue, but there are additional costs involved for export to some countries that must be resolved.
That, at this time of year, vector activity is low which creates potential for the disease to be contained and eradicated. Trade disruption and potential production losses on farms, would impact directly and solely on farmers, if the disease spreads.
To propose that, with new outbreaks of FMD across the EU, the Government must develop comprehensive plans for managing these diseases should they enter the country. These plans must include the extent of movement controls that could be in place, and an assessment of the market disruption that would arise and plans for vaccination usage.
That live export trade to Northern Ireland for slaughter cattle would continue unfettered access to the UK market. Exports to NI are only permitted if direct for slaughter, an issue which must be resolved urgently to restore the important trade for feeding and breeding animals. IFA has met with the UFU to advance this issue.
To reduce recording necessity at farm level.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
David Hall IFA Animal Health Chair, Tomas Bourke IFA Senior Policy Executive, Donal Callaghan IFA 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.
Barry Cassidy
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Brian Purcell
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
June Fanning
Chief Veterinary Officer (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Martin Heydon
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Sinead McPhillips
Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)