Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024
Specific Details
Forestry - IFA Manifesto for European Parliament Elections 2024
Intended results
To highlight that a major barrier to Ireland achieving its planting targets is the replanting obligation, which is enshrined in the Forestry Act 2014. This not only impacts immediate land use decisions but also has long-term implications for future generations locking land into forestry in perpetuity. If the planting targets are to be achieved the replanting obligation needs to be reviewed and relaxed further.
To highlight that, in August 2023, the European Commission granted State Aid approval to the afforestation scheme under Irelands Forestry Programme 2023-2027. A condition of this approval was that organo-mineral soil with a peat depth of greater than 30cm is no longer eligible under the afforestation scheme.
- This change has significantly reduced the land available to forestry and reduced the prospect of Ireland meeting its afforestation targets.
- Thin peat soils below the 50cm threshold are suitable for tree planting, and should be permitted particularly for native woodlands. native woodlands are a natural part of a peatland ecosystem mosaic.
To propose that the condition on organo-mineral soils should be reviewed so that peat depths of less than or equal to 50 cm, subject to appropriate assessment screening, are eligible under afforestation scheme.
To propose that the mandatory broadleaf area requirement should be reduced to 15% from 20% as per the previous programme.
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.
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.
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)