The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Sheep Supports

Intended results To highlight to the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine the difficulties in the sheep sector and the need for support by means of meaningful funding commitments to offset the enormous income challenges on farms. To highlight that the margins on sheep farms dropped over 80% last year to just €7/ewe with weak markets to date this year taking a further €11m directly from sheep farmers pockets as prices to date average almost 30c/kg behind last years levels. The sheep sector is a low-income vulnerable sector that does not have the capacity to absorb these challenges and must be provided with meaningful targeted direct supports. To request that the comprehensive proposals put to the Minister and his officials to build payments to €30/ewe must be put in place immediately. To propose that the costings in the Sheep Improvement Scheme must be revised to reflect the costs of compliance with the scheme for farmers, the genotype ram action in particular is costing farmers €200 to €300 more in the price they have had to pay for scheme eligible rams, the additional €2/ewe that the Minister provided for in this scheme is not adequate and must be increased. To suggest that if the full benefits and value of wool is to be developed then farmers must be directly supported for the cost associated with shearing and presenting wool in optimum condition to reduce costs associated with preparing the product for further processing. This would require a payment of €8/ewe for farmers to offset the costs of labour associated with shearing and presenting wool. To highlight that sheep dipping is extremely labour intensive and expensive for sheep farmers, yet this is recognised as the most effective way to deal with issues such as sheep scab which is becoming a problem on an increasing number of sheep farms. To call for sheep farmers to be supported for carrying out this important animal health and welfare measure on farms with €10/ewe payment. To welcome the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to increase the targeted payment for sheep to €20/ewe in the Budget. This is seen as a significant move in the right direction and, although it does not provide €30/ewe, it does build on the existing €12/ewe and is an important first step in the campaign.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kevin Comiskey IFA Sheep Chair, Francie Gorman IFA Chair South Leinster, Damian McDonald IFA Director General

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.

Social Media (2-5)

Email (2-5)

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.

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Michael Collins Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

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)

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)

Amii McKeever Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)