Caillian Ellis

Intent: To highlight the very serious concerns of farmers regarding the proposed Sligo, Leitrim, Northern Counties, Railway Greenway at a meeting with officials from Leitrim and Sligo County Councils as well as ARUP Project Consultants in Sligo last week.::To emphasise that Greenway projects like the SLNCR should maximise the use of public lands and minimise the impact on private lands, in line with the Government Strategy for the Future Development of Greenways and the Greenways Code of Best Practice.::To point out to the County Councils that the proposed emerging preferred corridor for the Sligo/Leitrim Greenway will predominantly take private lands and have the potential to sever and divide a large number of the farms and this is totally unacceptable. Severance and division of farms will not work and must be reviewed by the Councils.::That the proposed emerging corridor put forward by the Councils at the meeting is to follow the old railway route. However, in practice farmers now farm and

Details: Sligo/Leitrim Greenway

Intent: To voice farmers' anger and frustration at the ever-increasing administrative burden being placed on them which has had a major impact on farm family incomes.::These frustrations have broadened into anger with European and National lawmakers over the massive increase in regulations relating to Agriculture. The EU, the Irish Government and local Government are devising policies far from the farm gate with little or no consideration of the direct impact on farmers.::The following are some of the key issues that are contributing to growing frustration and anger with the political system::1. The transformation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) away from supporting food production towards actually reducing farm output. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding is being redirected to environmental schemes – the EU is effectively implementing new environmental regulations such as the “eco-schemes” on the cheap by redirecting existing funding instead of allocating additional funds.::2

Details: Leitrim County Council - Enough is Enough Campaign

Intent: To communicate to the Irish Government, the vast number of issues and the frustration of farmers on the ground due a number of key issues, including::- The EU Green Deal/Farm to Fork policies and their impact on farm productivity/cost of production;::- The transformation of CAP away from supporting food production to curbing farm output – particularly GAEC 2;::- The proposed Mercosur deal and how it could devastate the Irish Beef sector;::- Overly complicated schemes such as ACRES and TAMS which have been poorly implemented by the Irish Department of Agriculture leading to widespread delayed payment and failure to deliver any investment grant aid approvals in 2023;::- Excessive regulation adding massively to farmers cost of production;::- Nitrates derogation reduction;::- The Nature Restoration;::- The Industrial Emissions Directive and the Commissions farcical handling of it;.::- The 3-crop and catch crops rules in tillage with DAFM saying this week there is no room for flexibility d

Details: EU Farmer Protests - Solidarity of Irish Farmers

Intent: Changes made to the provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill (2024) to better provide for and protect public health and children's rights.

Details: Advocacy with elected representatives seeking changes to the proposed Intoxicating Liquor Bill (2024)

Intent: To highlight that the Silage Support Scheme is an important first step for the drystock sector, which is under significant pressure to build up feed stocks for next winter.::To seek that the Minister brings forward targeted measures for dairy farmers as some are tied into fixed milk price contracts, others are locked up with TB or have high borrowings.::To highlight that hill farmers who carry stock for the winter urgently need support as the exponential rise in costs is further eroding already low margins. To acknowledge the €55m Silage Support Package, but to highlight that this is not enough and more is needed.::To ensure hill farmers can afford to continue to feed their animals for the winter of 2022, all beef and sheep farmers must receive extra financial support in the form of a per head payment, in addition to existing payments.::To highlight that there are three actions the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue can address::1. Provide the allowed rate of 200% national c

Details: Input Crisis

Intent: - Availability of key inputs such as fertiliser, fuel and feed. There is an urgent need to provide an inventory of fertiliser and fuel supplies followed by a full appraisal of available and projected feed supplies for the remainder of the year and next winter.::All land must be utilised to produce food. Restrictions on land use under schemes must be removed to ensure farmers are facilitated in using all lands at their disposal to produce food. These include areas such as traditional hay meadows and low input grasslands in the GLAS scheme.::- Traditional hay meadows - The facilitation for grazing must be extended past the 15th April to allow farmers utilise the potential of all grasslands at their disposal o Farmers must be allowed cut the meadows prior to the 1st July to maximise the quality of the crop and facilitate earlier utilisation of the lands afterwards o The limits on chemical fertiliser usage must be increased.::- Low input grasslands - Farmers must be allowed harvest hay and

Details: Sheep Sector Requirements

Intent: extend town boundary by one field

Details: land rezoning

Intent: Attendance of Cavan and Monaghan Councillors plus TDs at meeting on illicit trade of solid fuel in border region

Details: Letter to Councillors after local elections to introduce RAS; invitation to Cavan and Monaghan Couoncillors plus noted TDs to attend meeting in Cavan to discuss illicit trade of solid fuel in border region

Intent: That Leitrim County Council would take over a private road at Ballinamore, County Leitrim

Details: Having Leitrim County Council take over a private road

Intent: To secure a fodder scheme for farmers who lost fodder to extreme weather conditions in 2016::To establish what the Teagasc analysis showed and what the plan to implement recommendations is

Details: Fodder Scheme for the Northwest