The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 21 Jan, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Transport

Period 1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021

Specific Details Development of Greenways

Intended results To highlight to the Minister for Transport that IFA has been actively involved with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and others in preparing and negotiating a Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenway developments and much progress has been made in the last year. That the development of the code is in accordance with the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways published by the Department of Transport in July 2018. To highlight that an essential aspect of the code for the IFA is the use of Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreements, which would avoid the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO's), where private lands will need to be acquired to complete a Greenway project. A key element for the success of the Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreement approach will be an additional ex-gratia Greenway Sustainability payment to farmers. That this Greenway Sustainability payment is vital to recognise and secure farmers goodwill for a Greenway project. The payment recognises that farmers are being asked to engage with the project promoter in the progression of the Greenway at a much earlier timeframe than required under a statutory regime and potentially entering into advanced commitments as part of the process. To highlight that Negotiations between the IFA and TII on the code and specifically the level of an adequate Greenway Sustainability payment has recently reached an impasse, with TII making an inadequate ‘offer to settle' of a flat rate payment of €2,250 and a per linear metre payment of €25/m. The IFA and the other farm organisations have put a proposal to TII for a flat rate payment of €5,000 and a per linear metre payment of €65/m. That IFA consider this proposal to be much fairer and more equitable, taking account of the unique circumstances of the Greenways and the need to encourage and secure Voluntary Land Acquisitions Agreements That it is the desire of the IFA to try and progress the Greenway developments through the Code of Best practice and the Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreement approach, of which an adequate Greenway Sustainability payment and farmers goodwill are essential. To welcome the opportunity to meet with the Minister at your earliest convenience to discuss these developments on the Greenways and see if we can progress matters towards a satisfactory conclusion. To ask the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan if is he aware that the IFA is working to try and agree a code of best practice for the Athlone to Galway and other regional and national Greenways with TII and others and would he agree that an essential aspect of the code is the use of Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreements as opposed to CPOs where private lands may need to be acquired and would he also agree that a key element for the success of the Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreement approach is t To highlight that the new Code of Best Practice for national and regional greenway projects negotiated by IFA is an important safeguard for farmers whose land is on greenway routes. To highlight that a key part of the Code is a new Sustainability Payment (once-off goodwill payment for early-sign on and co-operation) to each farmer, on top of the full value of any land acquired for a greenway as part of a voluntary land acquisition agreement process. To highlight that this Code allows for a clear engagement process to minimise the impact and disruption to individual farms, along with a sustainability payment to farmers for their co-operation with the project during the construction phase. To highlight that an essential aspect of the new code is the use of Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreements, in order to avoid the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), where private lands may need to be acquired to complete a greenway project. To highlight that a key element for the success of the Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreement approach is a new additional ex-gratia Greenway Sustainability payment, which will be paid to farmers in addition to the payment for land purchase and the other impacts of the greenway on their farm. To highlight that the sustainability payment rates are based on 5 band lengths as per the attached table, with payments ranging from €67.50 per linear metre in band 1 to €40.90 in band 5. To highlight that any farmer that uses a Voluntary Land Acquisition Agreement as part of the Code and receives the additional sustainability payment is also fully protected in terms of their statutory rights under the law, including the right to arbitration. To stress that project promoters must work closely with farmers and landowners in a proactive manner that is sensitive to their needs, that maximises their support for, and goodwill towards, any proposed greenway.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Paul O'Brien IFA Environment 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.

Letter (1)

Email (2-5)

Meeting (1)

Social Media (1)

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.

Eamon Ryan Minister (Department of Transport)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciaran Cannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mairéad Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Kyne Senator (Seanad)

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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)

Aisling Dolan Senator (Seanad)