Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024
Specific Details
Challenges in the Horticulture Sector
Intended results
To highlight that that the Irish Horticulture sector operates on very tight margins, and is in an extremely vulnerable position because of retail prices over the past decade and soaring input costs since Brexit.
To highlight that the sector will require immediate support this year to offset income losses due to this year's adverse weather conditions which have had a devastating effect on the sector. Grower margins are being further eroded because of delayed plantings and reduced marketable yields.
To highlight that, although only 1% of land area is dedicated to the horticulture sector, the sector accounts for 11% of total agriculture jobs through direct and downstream employment.
To highlight that in the Field Vegetable Sector, saturated ground conditions mean that very little early spring plantings have occurred. Extremely wet conditions since last Autumn have also meant that yields are significantly reduced on all winter crops such as carrots. Extremely challenging harvest conditions have also increased the cost of harvest and staffing requirements.
To highlight that reduced light intensity levels due to the bad weather have caused the the season to be delayed for the majority of Protected Crops. Due to a delay of at least three weeks tomato crops are not ready to be picked which results in a direct loss of yield for growers and therefore margin for growers.
To highlight that, in the Potato Sector, approximately 50% of acreage affected by the inclement weather of winter 2023 and spring 2024 is now unsaleable.
To highlight that the cost of straw as a direct result of the weather conditions is having a huge impact on the Mushroom Sector.
To highlight that the increase in input costs, especially staffing costs, are not matched by prices. Downward price pressure from imported goods is a huge issue, which sets a price precedence for the year.
To highlight that, although Government supports such as the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS) and the Horticulture Crisis Fund were welcome over the past 2 years, the support between sub sectors is highly variable and poorly thought through. The fact that sectors were excluded for the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS) is unacceptable.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Mark Walsh IFA Horticulture Chair, Niamh Brennan IFA Horticulture Executive
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.
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.
Jackie Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Ring
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Fitzmaurice
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Collins
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Joe Flaherty
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paul Kehoe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Claire Kerrane
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Brian Leddin
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Johnny Mythen
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Tim Lombard
Senator (Seanad)
Victor Boyhan
Senator (Seanad)
Lynn Boylan
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Denis O'Donovan
Senator (Seanad)