Relevant Matter
Legislation
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026
Specific Details
Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No.2) Bill & Forestry
Intended results
To highlight that the Government has an ambition to amend the Forestry Act 2014 to provide the management of critical infrastructure corridors within forestry lands. This bill also includes an increase for the minimum centre width corridor for power lines with a capacity of 10kV and 38kV from 20m to 55m.
To acknowledge the efforts Sinn Féin is making to address concerns about trees falling on ESB wires, causing power outages following severe storms. Nevertheless, IFA is concerned that the ESB proposals to date are going to cause further frustration to the already vulnerable forestry sector.
To emphasise that, to date, there has been insufficient dialogue regarding compensation arrangements, the proposals to place the responsibility of forest corridors maintenance onto landowners as well as insignificant forestry management plans being discussed with the forest industry stakeholders.
To stress that IFA wants farmers to see forestry as a viable option for their farm or parts of the farm. However, with the proposed changes some plantations will no longer be viable.
To request a meeting with the Minister for Climate, Energy & the Environment to discuss the proposed Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No.2) Bill.
To meet with Minister of State from the Department of Agriculture to discuss the proposed Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No.2) Bill and the implications for forestry.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Padraig Stapleton IFA Farm Forestry Chair, Amy Mulchrone 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.
Darragh O'Brien
Minister (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)
Martin Kenny
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Niall Collins
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Jack White
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)