Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025
Specific Details
Work Permits
Intended results
To welcome the opportunity to engage with the Minister on the issues impacting the sector and while the meeting was constructive, unfortunately, little progress has been made on the issues that were raised.
To highlight that the field vegetable sector is repeatedly called out as the sector in ‘critical care' and labour availability is cited as the core reason for the constant exit of growers from this sector. The mushroom sector, the largest employer in the horticulture sector, has been significantly affected by the unprecedented increases in the new roadmap for renumeration in the General Employment Permit (GEP).
All sectors of horticulture are at significant risk of further consolidation in 2025 unless the labour issue is addressed. This can only be achieved by ensuring all sectors are given access to the pilot seasonal work permit scheme.
To highlight that IFA has lobbied for the implementation of this scheme for all sub-sectors of horticulture extensively over the past two years.
To call for a steering/advisory group, with all subsectors of horticulture represented, to be established due to the lack of engagement with industry through all governmental bodies.
To stress that the consultation process must be robust and accurately take account of the current inflationary pressure within the sector. In addition, IFA is also calling for an advisory/steering group to be convened immediately on the GEP scheme due to previous unsatisfactory industry engagement.
The industry is responsible for providing employment directly to more than 7,000 people involved in primary production and a further 11,000 in downstream activities. The overarching aim of the National Horticulture Strategy 2023 – 2027 is to increase the farm gate value of the sector by 30% to €688 million in this period.
Addressing labour challenges is mentioned as one of the eight key strategic actions in this policy. The horticulture sectors operate on extremely tight margins with wage costs accounting for c. 40% of variable costs for most horticulture operators.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Mark Walsh IFA Horticulture Chair, Niall McCormack IFA Fruit & Vegetable Chair, Niamh Brennan, IFA Policy Executive, Neil McCormack IFA Fruit and Vegetable Chair
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.
Peter Burke
Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
Laura Mannion
Special Advisor (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)