Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022
Specific Details
Sheep Crisis
Intended results
To highlight the crisis in the Sheep Sector.
- Lamb prices are €1.50 per kg lower than the same time last year. Prices are currently 23c/kg behind last year's levels or almost €5/lamb, despite the enormous input cost increases of over 30%.
- This is further compounded by the failure of the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to provide targeted meaningful supports to the sector to offset the input cost increases.
- The store lamb trade, particularly lighter stores, are under severe pressure. Farmers who bought stores earlier in the year are not getting the market returns needed and all sheep farmers face a critical income situation.
- Up to 120% of income on sheep farms is from Direct Payments and with a projected 20% reduction in market returns, this dependence will increase significantly in 2022.
IFA emphasise that the Minister cannot shy away from supporting our second largest farm sector, which is the only source of vital economic and social activity in some of the most rural parts of the country while also adding to environmental objectives and driving biodiversity.
- The Minister failed to take advantage of the opportunity to support farmers for shearing costs, and in the presentation of wool to optimise its potential, through supports in the Sheep Improvement Scheme in the CAP and subsequently in the budget.
To secure direct targeted supports for sheep farmers
To highlight the lack of wool markets and the disappointment with the €100k wool study
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Kevin Comiskey IFA Sheep Chair, Francie Gorman IFA Chair Sth Leinster, John Fitzpatrick Laois Co. Chair, Peter Luttrell Laois Chair Sheep Committee, James Walsh IFA Policy Executive, Tomas Bourke, Senior policy 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.
Informal communication (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.
Brian Stanley
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Pippa Hackett
Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Seán Fleming
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charles Flanagan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Erin McGreehan
Senator (Seanad)
Patrick Donohoe
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Martin Heydon
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)