The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details National Beef Welfare Scheme

Intended results To highlight the error of including Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) testing in the National Beef Welfare Scheme. To highlight that this measure does not support suckler farmers and is a leakage of effectively 100% of the monies allocated to this action in the scheme. To highlight serious concerns for suckler farmers who implemented the measures for the marketing of their animals as it results in the transfer of monies to service providers. To request the removal of this requirement from the scheme and the inclusion of measures that are practical to implement and add value for the suckler farmers with minimal leakage of monies. To highlight that, due to the dependence of suckler farmers on direct supports for their economic viability, a number of farmers have entered the scheme and carried out this measure. These farmers will now receive positive test results for their animals. To seek clarity on what suckler farmers are required to do under the Consumer Protection Law. Are they required to notify the purchaser of the positive test results? If they choose not to, what are the implications should it be established that they knowingly sold animals with a positive Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) without declaring it. To insist that the National Beef Welfare Scheme, announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to replace the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEPS), must be revisited, the Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) testing component removed, and replaced with practical measures that add value to the farm without interfering with the marketing of animals. To propose that the funding for the scheme for next year must be increased in Budget 2024 to deliver €300/cow when combined with the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and be based on measures that add value to farms while minimising leakage of the monies. To highlight that, while the Budget announcement for supports for suckler cows represents and increase in the overall funding allocated by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to the sector, payment rates per cow remain at €200. The rate of payment per cow must be revisited in the scheme and substantially increased in the mid-term review.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Brendan Golden IFA Livestock Chair, TJ Maher IFA Animal Health Chair, Declan Hanrahan IFA Livestock Vice-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)

Social Media (1)

Email (2-5)

Meeting (1)

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.

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Martin Heydon Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Simon Coveney 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)