Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019
Specific Details
Brexit - Revised Political Declaration - 17th October 2019
Intended results
To highlight that the Political Declaration is a non-legally binding document which sets out the ambitions of both sides for their future relationship. The changes here reflect the new UK government's stated intentions to pursue an independent trade policy. The Political Declaration contains the shared ambition to have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with zero tariffs and quotas between the EU and the UK.
To highlight that the precise nature of commitments will be commensurate with the scope and depth of the future relationship and with commitments to ensure a level playing field. To point out that in the future trade negotiations, EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan will play a key role.
To state that while there is no certainty in the current political situation in Westminster, IFA cautiously welcomes the revised Withdrawal Agreement on the basis that, if approved by Parliament before or after 31st October, it would avoid a no-deal Brexit.
To point out that if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, then the UK will enter a stand-still transition period until 31st December 2020. The UK retains the right before 1st July 2020 to seek a once-off extension of the transition period to beyond December 2020.
To highlight that this leaves Irish farmers and agri-food businesses facing on-going uncertainty, which is seriously damaging to their businesses as, 1st July 2020 is now only eight months away and that deadline threatens a new cliff-edge on 31st December 2020 when, in the absence of a negotiated new trading relationship, the EU and the UK would have to trade on basic WTO terms.
To highlight that IFA remains very concerned over the impact of sterling devaluation and future trade uncertainty on our markets and producer prices
To put on the record that if and when the Withdrawal Agreement is passed, IFA strongly advocates an early decision for a realistic extension of the transition period, which would give much needed certainty to Irish farmers and agri-business. From our experience to date, we can say that the trade agreement negotiations ahead on an FTA between the EU and the UK will be just as difficult as the negotiations over the last three years on the Withdrawal Agreement.
To request a meeting with the Department of the Taoiseach to discuss
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Joe Healy IFA President, Bryan Barry IFA Assistant Director General
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 (6-10)
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.
Neale Richmond
Senator (Seanad)
Michelle Mulherin
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Ian Marshall
Senator (Seanad)
Joe O'Reilly
Senator (Seanad)
Niall Ó Donnghaile
Senator (Seanad)
John Callinan
Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)
Paul Savage
Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)