The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Sep, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2021 to 31 Aug, 2021

Specific Details Online System to Record Slurry Movement

Intended results To highlight to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) Nitrates Division officials that the transition to mandatory online records of slurry and manure movements is premature. To seek that the online system be made much more user friendly as suggested amendments that were made to DAFM officials. To highlight that this system has to accommodate farmers who are uncomfortable or unable to use online services. A transitional period allowing for both online and paper recording must be implemented. To highlight to the DAFM Nitrates Division the need to facilitate the provision of both paper records and online records, similar to the system successfully employed the animal movements system for many years. To highlight the systems failures with the proposed system, yet unresolved by the Department as follows 1. For an importer to accept a slurry import onto their holding, they must have an agfood profile and be familiar with how to navigate the portal. This mandatory requirement immediately discriminates against those who are not able to use online facilities. IFA is suggesting that a dual system that allows for online and paper records similar to the AIMS system for reporting animal movements. 2. The system does not cater for pig farmers who wish to export slurry in its current format. 3. The system only allows an exporter to insert the importers herd number. Upon entry of the herd number the name and address associated with the herd number does not appear. This function is available in the AIMS. We would have concerns that this will lead to many mistakes being made which could easily be avoided if time was provided to update the system. 4. To optimise the use of organic manure as a fertiliser the system should have the ability to inform farmers of the amount of slurry that can be imported onto their farms without breaching compliance with nitrates regulations. The system in its current format does not offer any such assurances to a farmer. Alternatively, we suggest each farmer should be furnished with such information within a within the last six months to discuss this letter at the start of the year. That time be provided for the issues identified by IFA to be resolved and tested.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan, IFA President, Roy Gallie Pig Committee Chairman, Andy Boylan Poultry Committee Chairman

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)

Letter (1)

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

Social Media (1)

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.

Martin Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Luke "Ming" Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)