Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025
Specific Details
Support for Horticulture Growers impacted by Storm Eowyn
Intended results
To highlight that Storm Éowyn has caused significant damage across Ireland, severely impacting horticultural enterprises. Collapsed growing structures and subsequent loss of plants and produce has caused significant financial losses on farms. Growers are assessing the damage which will mount to hundreds of thousands in many cases. The storm came at a vulnerable time for growers as tunnels and glasshouses have been planted with young plants for the new season.
That in the case of mushroom production, tunnels were in full production. Structural damage has destroyed produce destined for the marketplace within these structures.
That the sector needs immediate action with a co-ordinated approach and government intervention will be required.
To emphasise that the horticulture sector is worth €566m at farm gate and provides 7,000 jobs directly to rural Ireland. The sector operates on extremely tight margins and growers simply cannot absorb the financial shock caused by storm damage.
To propose that the following measures are considered to mitigate the impact of Storm Éowyn for the horticulture sector
• Increase the reach and the funding allocated to the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector to support necessary repair and/or rebuilding works on impacted property/infrastructure. In addition, financial support should be afforded to mitigate increased expenditure incurred in the preservation of existing crops where key infrastructure has occurred.
• Provide, through Article 6(a) of Regulation (EU) 2024/3242 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 as regards specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by natural disasters, with maximum co-financing, a one-off payment for farmers most impacted by Storm Éowyn to support re-building efforts and continuity of farming activities.
To request a meeting with the Minister of State to discuss the difficulties facing the horticulture sector.
To welcome the re-opening of the Horticulture Grant Scheme impacted by storm damage.
To highlight that the re-opening of the scheme will alleviate some of the financial pressure on growers to restore structural damage of buildings. However, it will not cover any crops lost or consequential losses, which also had a huge impact on growers.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Mark Walsh IFA Horticulture Chair, Niall McCormack IFA Fruit & Vegetable Chair, Niamh Brennan IFA Senior 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.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
MEP (European Parliament)
Barry Andrews
MEP (European Parliament)
Barry Cowen
MEP (European Parliament)
Billy Kelleher
MEP (European Parliament)
Ciaran Mullooly
MEP (European Parliament)
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
MEP (European Parliament)
Kathleen Funchion
MEP (European Parliament)
Luke Ming Flanagan
MEP (European Parliament)
Lynn Boylan
MEP (European Parliament)
Maria Walsh
MEP (European Parliament)
Michael Healy-Rae
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Michael McNamara
MEP (European Parliament)
Nina Carberry
MEP (European Parliament)
Regina Doherty
MEP (European Parliament)
Sean Kelly
MEP (European Parliament)