Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024
Specific Details
Beef Welfare Scheme
Intended results
To highlight serious issues which must be addressed before the Beef Welfare Scheme opens.
To highlight that suckler farmers needed to know if the intention was to run the scheme for calves born between July 2023 to June 2024, and the measures required. Autumn 2023 born calves have now been sold and the opportunity to carry out the actions has passed. In particular, farmers with Autumn born weanlings were not provided with any clarification of the measures required to qualify, and as such are effectively frozen out.
To highlight that the inclusion of the maximum number of animals eligible for payment in the scheme is a serious issue for suckler farmers. “While the vast majority of suckler farmers have fewer than 40 cows, those with more than 40 cows and who are heavily dependent on the income from their suckler herd cannot be penalised. All suckler cows should qualify for the measures carried out.
To emphasise that the 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme is a vital support for suckler farmers. It's important all suckler farmers are provided with the opportunity to participate, and to receive payment on all suckler cows in their herds.
To call on the Minister for Agriculture to address the issues which IFA highlighted to his officials since the start of the year as they undermine the credibility and value of the scheme for some suckler farmers.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Declan Hanrahan IFA Livestock Chair, Tomas Bourke IFA Senior Policy Executive, James Walsh 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.
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.
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Amii McKeever
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
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)
Seán Kelly
MEP (European Parliament)