The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 May, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2016 to 30 Apr, 2016

Specific Details Dairy Forum

Intended results Obtaining the earliest possible reconvening of the Dairy Forum, to focus the stakeholders on the need to co-ordinate their action to support dairy farmers through a prolonged time of low milk prices and challenging cash flow. Once the Forum was reconvened, promoting a cohesive strategy from banks, co-ops, Teagasc and DAFF especially to support dairy farmers through a difficult year for cash flow and incomes. With the first meeting of the Dairy Forum sub-group, to obtain specific commitments from banks (proactive review of customers' situation), Teagasc (programme of financial support workshops and sustainable cost cutting).

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity IFA National Chairman Jer Bergin; IFA Acting General Secretary Bryan Barry; IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Sean O'Leary; IFA Dairy Executive Catherine Lascurettes

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.

Letter (1)

Letter to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney requesting the urgent reconvening of the Dairy Forum sent 20th January 2016. Response by Minister's Private Secretary Mr Graham Lennox acknowledging receipt sent 21st January 2016.

Phone call (2-5)

Phone call to Secretary General of the Dept of Agriculture Mr Aidan O'Driscoll requesting meeting to discuss issues of relevance to the Dairy Forum. Message left with Secretary. Phone conversations with Brendan Gleeson, Assistant Secretary, to establish agenda of the DF sub-group meeting.

Email (2-5)

Email following up on phone call above, re. same issues. Response received from Secretary suggesting possible dates, date finalised and firmed up. Email to Secretary General re. the relevance of EU dairy policy issues being discussed at the EU Agriculture Council on 14th March to the Dairy Forum discussions.

Meeting (2-5)

Meeting with Secretary General of the Dept of Agriculture Mr Aidan O'Driscoll, Ms Brid Cannon and Mr Brendan Gleeson 16th February 2016 to discuss issues relevant to Dairy Forum, including EU measures re. dairy crisis. Meeting attended by IFA's National Chairman, IFA Acting General Secretary, IFA National Dairy Chairman and IFA Dairy Executive. Meeting of the Dairy Forum attended 9th March 2016 by IFA National Chairman, IFA National Dairy Chairman and IFA Acting General Secretary. Meeting of the Dairy Forum sub-group attended 11th April 2016 by IFA National Dairy Chairman and National Dairy Executive.

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.

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

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

Brid Cannon Second Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Brendan Gleeson Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)