Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026
Specific Details
Environment Simplification Omnibus
Intended results
To request a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to discuss the EU Environmental Simplification Omnibus and its implications for Irish agriculture, and to understand how the Government intends to progress this agenda during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
To highlight that the European Commission formally adopted its proposed environmental simplification package on 3rd December 2025, as part of its broader agenda aimed at reducing administrative burdens and delivering EU environmental objectives in a more efficient, proportionate, and cost-effective manner.
To welcome efforts to improve coherence and reduce unnecessary complexity in the regulatory framework. Farmers are increasingly concerned that the current implementation of EU environmental legislation is characterised by legal uncertainty, inconsistent interpretation, and an increasingly precautionary approach in decision-making.
To highlight that this has created significant challenges in relation to planning, investment and the delivery of normal farming activity. In particular, the cumulative impact of legislation such as the Nitrates Directive, Water Framework Directive, and Birds and Habitats Directives is leading to growing complexity at farm level and creating uncertainty.
To highlight that the simplification agenda presents an important opportunity to ensure that environmental legislation is clearer, more consistent, and workable in practice, while still delivering on its core environmental objectives.
To request a meeting with the Minister to outline IFA's key concerns and proposals.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement
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.
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)
Daniel Griffin
Special Advisor (Department of Foreign Affairs)
Martin Heydon
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Thomas Byrne
Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)