The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 May, 2018

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2018 to 30 Apr, 2018

Specific Details IFA AGM

Intended results To highlight the challenges facing farmers in 2018 to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed To set down that farmers expect Europe to stand by them and acknowledge the support Irish farmers have shown towards the European Union. On BREXIT: - we cannot have a scenario where the UK Government can do as they please as regards agricultural trade with 3rd countries. If the UK wants continued access to the EU market, the EU must insist that the UK will not be free to open their markets to low standard or low value products from outside the EU. To highlight that the agri-food sector needs the focus be on the relationship between the EU and the entirety of the UK. North-South Regulatory alignment will help to solve one problem of the hard border in Ireland. East-West Regulatory Alignment has the potential to deliver a lot more – to avoid major disruption for Irish food exporters to our largest market, Britain On CAP: To ensure a strong CAP budget after 2020 and that it has two elements: direct payments supporting active farmers, and a well-funded Rural Development Programme. On Climate: To highlight that the Irish agricultural sector is ‘Wide Awake’ on Green House Gas emissions and climate change targets.Nine out of every ten measures under the CAP have specific environmental or sustainability elements. Ireland is the most carbon efficient producer of dairy products in Europe and the 5th most carbon efficient producer of beef in Europe. That Smart Farming is delivering real returns – those who have taken part in the programme have cut emissions by 10% while improving their profitability by an average of €8,700. He said farmers are playing their part and we will continue to do so. “However, any ask of us has to be logical. It has to be practical. And it must be in tandem with our role as food producers and as the businesses which generate much-needed economic activity in rural areas”. Mercosur: To highlight the problem with the EU proposal on Mercosur, is that it takes no account of the economic and social impact of such a policy direction. Retail: To highlight that farmers are not getting a fair share of the retail price.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Joe Healy - IFA President

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.

Email (1)

Meeting (2-5)

Event / Reception (1)

Phone call (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.

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat Deering TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Willie Penrose TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn Senator (Seanad)

Michelle Mulherin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael Creed Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Andrew Doyle Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Jonathan Hoare Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Ultan Waldron Special Advisor (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Philip O’Callaghan Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Aidan O'Driscoll Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)