Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2017 to 30 Apr, 2017
Specific Details
IFA 62nd AGM - issues raised with Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine
Intended results
Brexit – to establish the Government's negotiation strategy for farming and agri-food sector
Beef / Live Exports - with 100,000 additional stock forecast for 2017 and more calf registrations, to get a strong commitment for support for the live export trade and if the DAFM will increase resources to support the live trade, undertake a trade mission to Egypt on live exports, eliminate the €8 charge on calf exports and work to remove the labelling restrictions impeding the live trade to the North and Britain?
Cattle Prices / Brexit - following the Brexit decision in June 2016, the meat factories took advantage of the uncertainty, and cut beef prices by up to 20c/kg. Throughout the autumn cattle prices were back by up to €100/head. The reality is that farmers were forced to pick up the bill for the sterling devaluation as a result of this political decision. With sterling again under pressure, even before the negotiations start, to establish the plan to address the losses farmers are facing.
Agri-cashflow loan scheme and volatility – To establish when the loans will be available for application by farmers ? To seek a commitment for industry stakeholders through the dairy forum to develop more solutions to deal with income volatility.
Aid for grain growers hit by weather losses and initiatives to assist the native cereal growing sector as per the grain forum. That aid is provided to grain growers hit by losses last year. In addition, that the initiatives to support native grain under the grain forum are outlined.
ANC Review - To outline how vital the ANC payments are to farmers on our poorer land. Farmers are concerned that they might lose out in the review. All areas must be protected, payments rates must reflect the natural handicap, and the funding is increased to the level it was of €250m per annum in the review. To ensure support for the IFA campaign for 95,000 farmers, farming on 75% of the country.
GLAS / TAMS / Charter of Rights – delays in payments – To outline that the delays in payments across many schemes is unacceptable. This has been particularly highlighted with the pay out of GLAS, where 10,000 farmers still await payments. Minister, when are problems in the Department going to be resolved so that payments are made on time? Farmers are questioning the Charter of Rights commitments and I would ask that you clarify your position on the matter.
Nitrates Regulations Review – To ensure that the review of the nitrates regulations will support farmers deliver on the ambition of Food Wise 2025. In particular, resolving the transitional arrangements for pig and poultry and continuation of the overall derogation.
Treatment by banks/asset management agencies of farmers with credit difficulties – To relay the concern of the treatment of farmers by some banks and agencies dealing with distressed loans. The approach in many cases is the stripping of assets with no regard for the family farm. That that Minister raises this issue at cabinet level.
Agri-Markets Task Force (AMTF) Report - That the Irish Government supports the recommendations in the AMTF report on Unfair Trading Practices in the Food Supply Chain and mandatory price reporting to show margins in the food supply chain and independent enforcement of retail regulation, through a Retail Ombudsman here in Ireland.
Beef Data Genomics Scheme and target of €200/suckler cow support – to get the scheme re-opened and to give direct support of €200/suckler cow to farmers.
Maximising the take up on the €10/ewe Sheep Scheme – In order to maximise the number of sheep farmers that will apply for the scheme and to draw down the full funding, to ensure that the DAFM adopts a flexible approach towards the January 31st closing date so as to get all flock owners and 2.5m ewes to apply for the scheme.
Liquid milk strategy – to ensure that the Minister will engage with IFA on its comprehensive long-term strategy to secure locally produced fresh milk for Irish consumers.
Pig Implementation Strategy Group in 2017 - to get a commitment from the Minisiter that progress is made on the work programme of the Group.
Poultry - to ensure that there is prompt approval of grant aid and inclusion of new technologies in further tranches of TAMS.
Animal Health – to ask the Minister if he will commit to engaging with IFA to reduce the cost burden of the TB Programme on farmers and to advance eradication of the disease from the national herd
Horticulture Forum Establishment Date - to get the Minister to deliver on previous commitment of Minister Andrew Doyle to establish a Forum, Chaired by the Minister for Horticulture Andrew Doyle and coordinated by the DAFM.
Farm Forestry – To outline IFA's concern that the recently introduced Environmental Requirements for Afforestation, will further reduce the productive area under the Afforestation Scheme and will lead to deforestation nationally as existing forests implement requirements following clear-fell.
Heritage Bill 2016 – enactment - To ask the Minister to eusure that this Bill, which included proposed changes on Hedge cutting and Gorse burning is progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Inputs - to get support from Minister Creed for the abolition of fertiliser tariffs and duties at EU level
Support for amendment to Fair Deal Scheme – To ensure that the Government honours its commitment and makes substantive changes to the scheme which will remove the discrimination on farm assets and small businesses. Establish when the decisions of the Interdepartmental Working Group will be publish.
Renewables – to ask the Minister if he will work with the various state agencies to resolve the agri-taxation and basic payment issues for farmers that may have solar projects on their lands.
Aquaculture/Shellfish - to establish if the Independent Aquaculture Licence Review Group set up under FoodWise 2025 report within the deadline of April 2017. To get assurance from the Minister that aquaculture licencing will remain within the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine in recognition of its role as a producer and exporter of a highly sought after food product
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Joe Healy IFA President, Bryan Barry Acting General Sectretary
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.
Michael Creed
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Andrew Doyle
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Jonathan Hoare
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Aidan O'Driscoll
Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Pat Deering
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charlie McConalogue
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Martin Kenny
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)