The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details National Economic Dialogue (NED)

Intended results To highlight that Irish farmers are currently engulfed in an Input Price crisis, and will need the same innovation re financial supports to help preserve food supply; employment and economic activity in rural Ireland in the weeks and months ahead. While we acknowledge the pigs, tillage and silage schemes, more will need to be done. To call on the Government to firstly remove all unnecessary uncertainty and, at a minimum, extend all existing positive taxation measures/interventions to promote agricultural activity; asset transfer and balanced rural development for at least the next 3 years. To highlight that maximum co-financing under the CAP and securing maximum BAR funding for Irish farmers would help to combat the current input crisis, but also the significant cuts in the Basic Payments that many will encounter in 2023 as the new CAP Programme begins. To highlight that consideration amongst other measures should also be afforded to a temporary reduction in the VAT rate for select agri commodities; suspension of excise duty on agri-diesel & LPG for farm use to help reduce production costs at farm level. To highlight that elsewhere, opportunity exists, via VAT exemptions and accelerated capital allowances, to further support increased investment and adoption of more environmentally friendly practices, therein supporting climate change ambitions of carbon neutrality by 2050. To highlight that the Zoned Residential Land Tax, introduced in the Finance Bill 2022 and to be implemented from January 2024 must provide that all productive farm land currently and previously used for food production purposes should be exempted. To highlight that the Government must ensure that all the provisions in the Climate Bill in relation to farming are properly taken into account when setting sectoral emissions ceilings. This includes: - the economic and social importance of Agriculture, - the risk of Carbon Leakage, - the distinct characteristics of Biogenic Methane. and - the distinct characteristics of Biogenic Methane and the importance of food production under Article 2 of the Paris Agreement. To highlight that the ceiling based on a 21.7% reduction will pose huge challenges. However, anything higher will do untold damage on top of the renewed Brexit uncertainty the sector faces.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance and Oireachtas Engagement, Tadhg Buckley Chief Economist/Director of Policy, Shane Whelan 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.

Event / Reception (1)

Email (1)

Social Media (1)

Letter (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.

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Eamon Ryan Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Kevin Barrett Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Grant Sweetnam Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Patrick Donohoe Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)