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
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
AFI & ICAAN were one of a number of NGO's to sign a letter seeking changes to the Intoxicating Liquor Bill (2024) and in particular seeking that a Health Impact Assessment be carried out on the Bill to assess its potential impacts on public health, safety and well being. Letter was sent to; An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, TD;Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, TD; Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications & Transport, Eamon Ryan, TD in Feb. - LetterBriefing on Sale of Alcohol Bill (and Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 2024) in Letterkenny in Jan 2024. Between 25-30 in attendance including a number of councillors and 1 Oireachtas member. - Event / ReceptionBriefing on Sale of Alcohol Bill (and Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 2024) in Sligo office of Alcohol Forum Ireland. 10 in attendance including 1 councillor and 1 Oireachtas member. - Event / Reception
Intent: Deferment of the introduction of the proposed Defective Concrete Products Levy by Government, pending a regulatory and economic impact analysis. Subsequently, exclusion of precast products entirely from the scope of the Defective Concrete Products Levy and agreement on transitionary measures to assist in compliance with the Defective Concrete Products Levy.
ICF encouraged its members to call each of their local elected representatives on the negative impacts of the Defective Concrete Products Levy. - Phone callICF encouraged its members to email each of their local elected representatives on the negative impacts of the Defective Concrete Products Levy. - EmailICF encouraged its members to meet each of their local elected representatives on the negative impacts of the Defective Concrete Products Levy. - Meeting
Intent: Convey the importance of conifer planting and the needs of the timber processing sector. This included providing an understanding on the necessity of a constant source of wood residue as the main raw material to sustaining the Masonite Ireland business.
Details: Meeting to build awareness of importance of aforestation within the wood industry.
