Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024
Specific Details
Anaerobic Digestion (AD)/Biomethane industry
Intended results
To propose that a National Biomethane Strategy should be developed that allows full farm participation in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and the confidence to invest in Anaerobic Digestion (AD).
That full reflection of the emissions savings realised from the production of biomethane from agriculture feedstock must be allocated to agriculture in the national inventory.
To introduce a Renewable Heat Obligation scheme (RHO) with sustainable subsidies as soon as possible to support the wide scale development of an Anaerobic Digestion (AD sector). This will give greater certainty and security of revenue for farmer led projects.
To provide capital grant funding to support the construction of viable on farm Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants and for on farm storage of digestate from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants. This funding must come from the Department of Energy and Climate Change budget.
That Government backed finance (similar to current Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) lending structures) to be provided to enable farmers develop Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants.
To introduce a biomass mobilisation scheme to support farmers to coordinate, mobilise and establish a sustainable feedstock supply chain for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants.
To streamline current regulations to support the development of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants, in particular farm scale AD plants, with statutory timelines imposed on regulatory and licensing authorities. National guidelines are required so all local authorities can assess possible Anaerobic Digestion (AD) projects under the same criteria.
To ensure the maximum amount of farm slurries and farmyard manures are used in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants in Ireland.
To minimise the displacement of human food production for the supply of feedstocks for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants in order to safeguard Food Security.
That no agricultural feedstocks supplied to Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants to be classified as waste.
That where any non agricultural materials are used in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants, strict rules must be complied with, to ensure no contaminants are spread on farm land or enter the food supply.
To establish a fair, equitable and independent pricing mechanism to ensure a sustainable feedstock price for farmers who wish to supply Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants.
That all taxation rules, reliefs and exemptions that currently apply to agriculture must continue for farmers involved in Anaerobic Digestion (AD).
That to support more circular based agricultural practices, it must be ensured that digestate from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants is reclassified under the Nitrates Directive and as outlined in the 2020 Joint Research Centre (JRC) report18 to ensure it does not count towards a farms organic Nitrogen load.
That digestate from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants to be eligible for spreading on Organic farmland.
That at all times grass and other animal feed products must be prioritised for animals. If at any time there is potential of animal welfare issues from a shortage of fodder in the country then produce that can be fed to animals must be diverted from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants for use as feed for animals.
To ensure a streamlined system is in place for the importation of animal manures and slurries and the exportation of digestate from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants. If built on farm these imports and exports must be treated separately when assessing those farms organic load from its farming enterprise.
To propose the review of Animal By Product Regulation on requirements re pasteurisation. Where only agricultural feedstocks are supplied to an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility there should be no requirement for pasteurisation.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy and Chief Economist, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement
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
Mass communications
Submission All Senators
Letter All Senators
Submission All TDs
Letter All TDs
Submission All MEPs
Letter All MEPs
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.
Darragh O'Brien
Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)
James Browne
Minister of State (Department of Justice)
Joe O'Brien
Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)
Michael McGrath
Minister (Department of Finance)
Micheál Martin
Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)
Roderic O'Gorman
Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)
Malcolm Noonan
Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)