The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Sheep Crisis

Intended results To highlight that the sheep sector in Ireland is at a critical point with market prices failing to reflect the production cost increases farmers have had to endure over the past two years. - The income levels on sheep farms last year dropped to just €7/ewe, which included the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS) payment in 2022. - Gross margins on sheep farms decreased by 14% while net margins decreased 81% to €7/ewe in 2022 which included the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS) payment. - €7/ewe return in the sector is unsustainable. To seek meaningful payments of at least €30/ewe which are vital to encourage generational renewal and ensure the economic viability of existing sheep farms. To highlight that the family farm income on sheep farms dropped 21%in 2022. a level of reduction the low income, vulnerable sheep sector does not have the capacity to absorb. Direct payments contributed 110% to overall family arm incomes in 2022 and a targeted €30/ewe is essential to support the sector. To highlight that the difficult trading conditions predicted by Bord Bia have materialised. Prices are averaging over 40c/kg behind 2022 for the year to date on hoggets and lambs which equates to a further cut of over €9.5m in sheep farmers' incomes for the year. To emphasise that sheep farmers do not have the capacity to endure this level of income loss, with quotes for week commencing 3rd July dropping another 10c to 20c/kg, and immediate action is required by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to provide direct supports to the sector. To request an urgent meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to discuss these issues in detail as he works on framing the Budget 2024. To highlight that the sheep sector has the strongest case of all sectors for inclusion in the EU Commission support package for Irish farmers, who to-date this year have lost €15 a ewe from the market place, putting sheep farmers into a sever loss-making situation.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Kevin Comiskey IFA Sheep Chair, Tomas Bourke Senior Policy Executive, Pat Egan IFA Rural Development Chair Mayo, Mathew McGreehan IFA Louth Sheep 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)

Meeting (2-5)

Email (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Informal communication (11-20)

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.

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Dara Calleary Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Lisa Chambers Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Martin Browne 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)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Amii McKeever Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)