Relevant Matter
Legislation
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023
Specific Details
Copa Cogeca - Nature Restoration Law
Intended results
To participate, along with other EU Farming Organisations and Copa-Cogeca in a flash action event to demonstrate a clear message to the European Parliament on the Nature Restoration Proposal which leaves little space for agriculture, forestry and horticulture in Europe's future in it's current form.
To emphasise that, while IFA have always welcomed the goal of the improvement and protection of our nature and biodiversity, it is clear from developments in the European Parliament that the proposal will remove food production from vast swathes of European land, remove the function of already endangered rural communities and leave many producers without a decent living.
To highlight that the provisions in this law will clearly limit the availability of, and increase the price of agricultural land and the granting of permits. With non-deterioration rules outside Nature2000 area's; non-fulfilment provisions lacking coherency and practicality ;a lack of coherent and dedicated funding for restoration; and exaggerated and unrealistic time-based targets; we are clear that this law is impractical and member States are destined to fail at fulfilment.
To demand that agriculture has a place in Europe.
To insist that a full impact assessment is undertaken to understand the social and economic implications of the proposed regulation to agriculture and rural communities, before the regulation is adopted.
To highlight that, before legally binding restoration targets are set, it is essential, that the proposed targets are realistic and fair, that they are achievable within the timeframes proposed and are not detrimental to the continuity of farming in Ireland. This can only be achieved if the area of farmland that could be impacted is quantified and the impact on production and the downstream impact to rural communities is understood.
To highlight that there must be full engagement with farmers at national and European level.
To highlight that all proposed measures must be voluntary and only implemented if full agreement with farmers.
To insist that a long-term dedicated financial support mechanism for nature restoration, outside of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding, is put in place before regulation is adopted. lack of financing has been identified as a key failure in the EU meeting it's 2020 biodiversity targets.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Tim Cullinan IFA President, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs
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.
Barry Andrews
MEP (European Parliament)
Billy Kelleher
MEP (European Parliament)
Chris MacManus
MEP (European Parliament)
Ciarán Cuffe
MEP (European Parliament)
Clare Daly
MEP (European Parliament)
Colm Markey
MEP (European Parliament)
Deirdre Clune
MEP (European Parliament)
Eamon Ryan
Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)
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)
Sean Kelly
MEP (European Parliament)