Specific Details
IFA Budget 2027 submission - Animal Health
Intended results
To highlight that Irish farmers continue to lead the way in maintaining high standards of animal health and welfare, delivering benefits to the wider agri-food sector. However, the costs of these efforts should be shared more fairly among all who benefit.
TB:
The arbitrary ceilings must be removed from the compensation scheme and full compensation must be paid for all animals removed as TB reactors.
Wildlife:
As wildlife plays a key role in the spread of TB the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine must ensure that there is a fully staffed and funded wildlife control programme.
Deer Management:
The Government must build on the funding allocation provided to the Deer Management Strategy Group and provide a financial incentive to encourage the removal of young female deer while markets are being developed.
TB Testing:
The TB testing agreement with Government requires the farmer to pay for only one full herd test a year at no shorter interval that 10 months, all other legislatively required testing is paid by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. Government must honour the long-standing agreement in relation to payment for TB testing.
VAT Rate on Vaccines:
To propose that the current rate of 23% VAT on vaccines be reduced to 0% which would result in over €10m in direct savings for farmers and promote increased usage of vaccines on farms.
Regional Veterinary Laboratories:
To propose that the €33.5m allocation for the upgrading of the Regional Veterinary Laboratory network must be utilised and the enhancements to the services to farmers from the RVL network provided.
Herd Health Plans:
That Government should provide funding to directly support farmers to develop and implement herd health plans to ensure antibiotic usage on farms is minimised and the most effective parasite control programme for the farm is employed in line with the EU's one health approach.
AHI Programmes:
To propose that the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine must make the necessary resources available to Animal Health Ireland for the current range of programmes it operates.
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 Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Tadhg Buckley Director of Policy & Chief Economist, Robert Malone IFA Senior Policy Executive, Tomas Bourke IFA Senior Policy Executive
Dee Ryan
Senator (Seanad)
Deirdre Gillane
Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)
Holly Cairns
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Jack Chambers
Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)
Jack O'Donnell
Special Advisor to the Tanaiste (Department of Finance)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Minister (Department of Health)
Jennifer Whitmore
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
John Clendennen
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Matt Carthy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Micheál Martin
Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Niall Collins
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Nicole Ryan
Senator (Seanad)
Nikki Bradley
Senator (Seanad)
Noel O'Donovan
Senator (Seanad)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Robbie Gallagher
Senator (Seanad)
Rose Conway-Walsh
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Simon Harris
Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Finance)