The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 21 Jan, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021

Specific Details CAP Plan - the new Agri-Environment and Climate Measure Scheme.

Intended results To highlight that the new agri-environment and climate measure scheme proposed by the Minister for Agriculture will exclude thousands of farmers. That the proposed scheme will only have 50,000 farmers participating, which is wholly inadequate to meet likely demand, based on current number participating in GLAS and the number who applied for REAP. That the new environment scheme proposes that up to 20,000 farmers, in areas as identified by the Department as having higher environmental priorities, would receive a payment of up to €10,000, with an average payment of €7,400 – referred to as the co-operative project option. To highlight that the scheme proposes that the remaining 30,000 farmers will receive an average payment of €5,000, with a maximum payment of €7,000. That the co-operative model and the general option are to include results-based measures. “Results-based is all very well, but there are several factors beyond a farmer's control that can have an impact on the results. This can have a negative effect on payments. To highlight that this scheme will not deliver €10,000 per farmer or anywhere near it for the vast majority of farmers. That farmers be given the option to choose to participate in either approach and it's unacceptable to set a maximum payment rate of €10,000. That the Programme for Government commitment of a REPS-type scheme is honoured, the Minister must ensure the budget is adequate to provide meaningful payments for farmers and the scheme must be open to all who wish to participate.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy/Chief Economist, Michael Biggins IFA Rural Development Chairman, Flor McCarthy IFA Hill Committee 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.

Meeting (6-10)

Informal communication (6-10)

Phone call (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.

Martin Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill 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)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Luke "Ming" Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

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

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)

Malcolm Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Timmy Dooley Senator (Seanad)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Carey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

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

Patrick Donohoe Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Brendan Gleeson Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)