The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details IFA Budget 2027 Oireachtas Briefing

Intended results Measures to Support Farm Sectors • Increased funding for all national support schemes with no linear cuts imposed • Suckler cow total supports of €300/cow on all cows • €35/ewe to all breeding ewes & €45/ewe for hill ewes • Beef calf from Dairy Herds Scheme - €100/calf • Beef Sustainability Scheme - €100/head for cattle aged 1-2yrs • Dairy Fertiliser support, improve TAMS access, VAT reliefs, and volatility mechanisms • Tillage Expansion and Sustainability Scheme (TESS) €65 million for a tillage sustainability scheme and an additional €3.2 million for a tillage expansion scheme • Increased funding to ensure full payment to all Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) applicants • Horticulture supports to alleviate cost of production including labour – increase in Horticulture Grant Scheme • Re-establishment of Multi-Species Sward and Red Clover Silage Schemes • Sector specific supports for Mushroom & Potato farmers • Pigs & Poultry - additional TAMS grant supports and animal health measures & education support • Funding to support forestry replanting following windblow event & establishment of Forestry Development Agency • Continued support for organic farming and marketing of produce • Supports for the aquaculture sector • Increase in the TB compensation payment ceilings Cost of Business on Farms • Implement recommendations from the Cost of Business Advisory Forum to reduce farm input costs (energy, insurance, regulatory burden • Pause further regulatory changes to provide stability • Additional support for vulnerable sectors and agricultural employment, especially horticulture • Benchmark farm incomes to the industrial wage • Volatility Introduce an Income Stability Scheme (Rainy Day Fund) for all sectors • Income impact analysis for all new regulations in advance of implementation Middle East Conflict Response • Suspend carbon tax on green diesel and remove EU CBAM on nitrogen fertilisers • Expand and simplify Fuel Support Scheme • Rapid, well-funded Fertiliser Support Scheme with both EU and national funding. Provision of maximum 200% co-financing of CAP agricultural reserve funding allocation to help alleviate the impact of fertiliser cost increases Cross-Sector Supports & Finance • Increase in the overall agricultural budget allocation • Increase funding for Areas of Natural Constraints (ANCs), ACRES, TAMS, Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, Beef and Sheep Welfare Schemes, Organic Farming Scheme, NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, Walks Scheme & LEADER • Ensure all farmers can access Agri-Environmental Schemes and simplify payment processes • Address the needs of ‘Forgotten Farmers' excluded from previous support schemes Ring-fenced climate and nature funding for agriculture, independent of the CAP. Targeted grant aid for climate, biodiversity, and water quality investments (nutrient management, watercourse fencing, liming, habitat payments, renewable energy, etc. • Expand support for on-farm renewable energy (biomethane, solar, wind) and energy-efficient equipment • Roof-top solar – additional multi-year SEAI funding with increased grant funding per application and battery storage to be included • Increased TAMS funding to €100 million; have nutrient storage investments as a separate scheme, 100% funded • Ringfenced agri-fund delivered through Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) Social Protection and Inclusion • Fair Deal reform, Farm Assist, and pension access for farmers • Support for women farmers, youth participation, and agricultural education Address rising employment costs and ensure fair PRSI treatment • Generational renewal Lump-sum exit payments for retiring farmers, higher grant rates for young/new entrants, and succession-planning grants Agri Taxation • Permanently remove actively farmed land from Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) • Maintain exemptions for farm buildings from commercial rates • Accelerated capital allowance (ACA's) – extended to cover additional items to improve on-farm efficiency, calf feeders, milking parlours, animal health & monitoring equipment • Reduce the VAT rate on animal vaccines and other associated important farm medicines to 0% • Water charges – no increase as proposed in Agri water charges • EPR - Tyre Disposal Scheme. Engagement with the Department of Environment and IS required to address the disposal of tyres on farms • Inheritance Tax – CAT Category A threshold (parent to child) increases from €400,000 to €500,000 to account for increased asset values in both agriculture and residential homes. Retain 90% Agricultural Relief for all genuine farmers • Stamp Duty – agricultural land should be removed from the commercial definition rate of 7.5% and revised in line with the residential stamp duty charge of 1% up to €1 million, and 2% thereafter • Resolve the discrepancy caused by the difference in livestock VAT rate and the Flat rate addition (FRA) VAT rate and ensure farmers are not disadvantaged selling through livestock marts • Forestry classified as agriculture on all farms for CAT ag relief purposes • Support generational renewal through improved reliefs (stamp duty, CAT, CGT, succession credits)

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Alice Doyle IFA Deputy President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy & Chief Economist, Robert Malone IFA Senior Policy Executive, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Execitive

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

Mass communications

Letter All TDs

Submission All TDs

Letter All Senators

Submission All Senators

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Email (11-20)

Submission (1)

Informal communication (11-20)

Social Media (2-5)

Lobby day (1)

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.

Aidan Davitt Senator (Seanad)

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Albert Dolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Brennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Carol Nolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathy Bennett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Christopher O'Sullivan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Conor D McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)

David Maxwell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Diarmuid Wilson Senator (Seanad)

Donna McGettigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Edward Timmins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)

Eoghan Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eoin Hayes TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Erin McGreehan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fiona O'Loughlin Senator (Seanad)

Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frank Feighan Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform)

Gareth Scahill Senator (Seanad)

Garret Kelleher Senator (Seanad)

George Lawlor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gillian Toole TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Healy-Rae Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor Minister of State (Department of Health)

Jerry Buttimer Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Joanne Collins Senator (Seanad)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Neville TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

John Clendennen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul O'Shea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ken O'Flynn TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kiera Keogh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Health)

Linda Nelson Murray Senator (Seanad)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee Senator (Seanad)

Louis O'Hara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Noonan Senator (Seanad)

Manus Boyle Senator (Seanad)

Marian Harkin Minister of State (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Mark Wall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)

Martin Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Michael Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Carrigy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Naoise O'Cearúil TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nessa Cosgrove Senator (Seanad)

Niall Blaney Senator (Seanad)

Niall Collins Minister of State (Department of Justice)

Niamh Smyth Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Noel O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Ollie Crowe Senator (Seanad)

Pa Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Padráig Mac Lochlainn TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paraic Brady Senator (Seanad)

Pat 'the cope' Gallagher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paula Butterly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline Tully Senator (Seanad)

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

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Peter Roche TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robbie Gallagher Senator (Seanad)

Robert O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robert Troy Minister of State (Department of Finance)

Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ryan O'Meara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sarah O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Seamus McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Kyne Senator (Seanad)

Shane Curley Senator (Seanad)

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Timmy Dooley Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Tony McCormack TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Willie O'Dea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)