The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP)

Intended results To call on the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to support suckler farmers and to play his part in alleviating their concerns in relation to the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) eligibility. To ensure that the new revised terminal and replacement indices issued by the the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) have the confidence of suckler farmers by reflecting the realities of production systems on the ground. While farmers recognise the importance of having access to independent scientifically verifiable information to inform breeding decisions on farms, to be of benefit this system must have the confidence of suckler farmers. To seek assurance that the recent changes to the indices will not have any negative impact on Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) eligibility or farming practices for the duration of the scheme. To highlight that the indices have an important role to play in the long-term direction of our suckler herd and it is critical they and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) have the trust of suckler farmers in the information they provide. To highlight that the association of the indices with the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) scheme continues to raise short term issues that must be addressed in order to allow the time and space necessary in the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) stakeholder forum to resolve the indices issues in a comprehensive way. To suggest that there are further flexibilities required in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) scheme which would effectively simplify the measures already provided and broaden them to deliver on the key objective that no farmer is negatively impacted in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) as a result of the changed indices issued by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) after farmers entered the scheme in good faith. To seek, for the purpose of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP),that all animals would be allowed carry Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) eligibility if meeting the criteria on their old index, males and females even when traded, effectively simplifying what has been provided and broadening it out which in effect is using the old or new index for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP). This would ensure no farmer is negatively impacted by the new indices in the suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and provide the time and space necessary for the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) Stakeholder Forum to function effectively. That, in order to comply with the training requirement of the scheme the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine must provide in-person events for farmers to meet these requirements.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Declan Hanrahan IFA Livestock 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.

Informal communication (2-5)

Letter (1)

Email (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.

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

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

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Jackie Cahill 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)

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)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)