The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 16 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Bovine TB Action Plan

Intended results To highlight that the proposal by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to retrospectively restrict the sale of cows in herds that have been locked up prior to the launch of the Bovine TB Action Plan is unfair on impacted farmers. To firmly oppose the retrospective implementation of measures within the TB Action Plan. In particular, the proposed retrospective restriction on the sale of cows from exposed cohorts and the identification at point of sale of females over 18 months. To highlight that these outbreaks have not been managed uniformly to date as envisaged in the TB Action Plan. To now impose restrictions retrospectively on farmers who operated in good faith is completely unfair on those impacted farmers. To outline the disappointment at the lack of meaningful stakeholder engagement by the Department of Agriculture, Food, & the Marine on the implementation of the Bovine TB Action Plan. To stress how farmers have engaged constructively and consistently on the development of the plan, but the approach now being taken by the Department undermines that engagement and fails to respect commitments given to stakeholders. To point out that the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine gave stakeholders clear assurances that no measures would be applied retrospectively and it is essential that it stands over those commitments. To raise serious concerns regarding the implementation of new testing requirements for cull cow sales at marts. From April 13th, new rules will require cows entering dairy herds to have a pre-movement test within 30 days. Similar requirements will apply to suckler cows and males over 36 months if they are outside 6 months of their annual herd test. To highlight that it was clearly understood that the Animal Identification and Movement system (AIMS) would prevent non-compliant movements and that marts would police these requirements in the interim. To point out that this will not be the case and that responsibility will instead fall on individual farmers, with the risk of referral to Regional Veterinary Offices for non-compliance. This is a clear reversal of commitments previously given by the Department. To stress that the Department must pause this aspect of the TB Action Plan until AIMS is capable of properly enforcing these rules. Farmers cannot be expected to carry the burden of flawed implementation. To stress that the department must learn from mistakes previously made by implementing changes to compensation schemes for TB when their systems were not ready. It took 18 months for those problems to be rectified, but the Department seem determined to make the exact same mistake again. To highlight that The Department's own communications have added to confusion on farms. It is completely unreasonable to expect farmers to be fully up to date with changes when clear and transparent guidance has not been provided.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, David Hall IFA Animal Health Chair, Tomas Bourke IFA Senior Policy Executive, Donal Callaghan IFA Policy Executive, Donagh O'Sullivan IFA Regional 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.

Email (2-5)

Letter (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.

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Cassidy Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Brian Purcell Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

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

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)

Joanne Collins Senator (Seanad)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

June Fanning Chief Veterinary Officer (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Martin Heydon Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paraic Brady Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter 'Chap' Cleere TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sinead McPhillips Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Norma Moriarty Councillor (Kerry County Council)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Sinead McPhillips Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)