Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022
Specific Details
Animal Health
Intended results
To acknowledge the increased budget allocation of €6m for the Wildlife Control Programme. It is vital these additional resources are fully utilised in increasing the numbers of operatives out on the ground implementing the programme as this is the key issue to be addressed in order to reduce TB levels Nationally.
Also, on TB there is the very contentious issue of the EU Animal Health Law requirement of pre/post movement testing to be addressed. As you are aware IFA have put forward a practical alternative as to how this should be implemented in order to minimise the impact on farmers and the competitive sale of animals by focusing solely on cows. Your Department and the TB Implementation Group support this proposal and it is vital this proposal is advanced as part of our planned TB programme at EU level.
In relation to veterinary medicines the new EU Veterinary Medicines Regulations if not implemented in a practical manner can cause huge difficulties for farmers. The commitment given by your department that farmers will still be allowed purchase antibiotics to have for emergency use is significant and must be clearly set out in all advice and guidance to all stakeholders.
The development of the NVPS has raised serious concerns for farmers in the context of the visibility this can/will provide for farmers private medicine usage data and has the potential to be used against farmers in the sale of their produce. We hold very serious reservations in relation to this process that must be addressed.
The deferment of changes to the purchasing of antiparasitic products has provided a window of opportunity to reach a consensus amongst all stakeholders as to how this issue can be best dealt with. It is vital that no single service provider is given an unfair competitive advantage in the market place for these products.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Tim Cullinan IFA President, Pat Farrell Outgoing IFA Animal Health 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.
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.
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Brendan Gleeson
Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Patrick Donohoe
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Pippa Hackett
Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Martin Heydon
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Barry Cassidy
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)