Intent: Grant Assistance to Support Investment in Static Slurry Separation Systems
Details: Proposal for Grant Assistance to Support Investment in Static Slurry Separation Systems
Intent: Request for Meeting and Proposal: Inclusion of Operational Machinery Drivers on Critical Skills List - and to propose a pathway to remedy this via inclusion of “operational drivers for contracting & forestry machinery” in the Critical Skills Occupation List for skilled workers.Under the following topics 1. Nature of the Challenge, 2. Proposed Solution: Critical Skills Inclusion, 3. Requesting for Meeting & Next steps, 4. Why this matters now,.
Details: Request for Meeting and Proposal: Inclusion of Operational Machinery Drivers on Critical Skills List
Intent: Submission from the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) – to put a National Contingency Plan in place to allow for an extension of the period for slurry spreading from October 1, 2025 to October 15, 2025 due to ongoing grass growth
Details: Submission fro FCI to put a National Contingency Plan in place to allow Slurry Spreading
Intent: Attendance by Minister Michael Healy-Rae TD and to deliver the opening address at the Irish Bioenergy Association Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme AGM and Wood Fuel Conference 2025.
Details: Email invitation to Minister Michael Healy-Rae TD to deliver the opening address at the Irish Bioenergy Association Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme AGM and Wood Fuel Conference 2025.
Intent: To share information with public representatives on the extent and impact of tobacco smuggling in Ireland.
Details: Seeking the opportunity to brief public representatives on the extent and impact of illegal trade of tobacco products.
Intent: To engage with Cllrs in Tralee to have lands at Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry to be rezoned as residential
Details: Lands at Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry to be rezoned as residential
Intent: To invite the Minister of State at the Dept of Agriculture with responsibility for farm safety Michael Healy-Rae to launch Farm Safety Week 2025.::To highlight that farmers face unique risks every day, but they also have the power to make safer choices. During Farm Safety Week every farming family is urged to stop, think, and take action to prevent accidents, to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their future.::To discuss the following topics::• Farmer Health & Wellbeing::• Eye Protection – Importance of PPE::• Vehicle & Machinery safety::• Falls from heights::• Sepsis Awareness::• Farm Safety Hero
Details: Farm Safety Week 2025
Intent: To discuss the challenges facing the sports sector with members of the Oireachtas and to explore policy solutions.
Details: AV Room Briefing Event to discuss the ongoing policy challenges in the sports sector
Intent: To highlight that there are many obstacles to overcome before the Governments ambitious targets are reached. The Government has an ambitious target of 10% of agricultural land to be farmed organically by 2030.The National Organic Strategy 2024-2030 contains the ambition to increase the organic sector's value to €750 million by 2030, tripling its current wholesale value.::To highlight that land parcels which are included in an OFS contract can be converted to forestry during the OFS contract period without penalty. However, there are limitations preventing landowners from entering the scheme such as soil types and the elevation restriction that being below 200 metres and in sheltered areas are only granted eligible.::That dual funding is another obstacle when considering the OFS or environmental schemes for existing organic farmers. Organic farming should revert to being a supplementary measure of an environmental scheme.::To request a meeting with the Minister of State Michael Healy-
Details: Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) and Afforestation
Intent: To highlight that the mandatory use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) technologies is provided for, on a progressive basis, within the Nitrates Regulation to promote reduced ammonia emissions and good nutrient management practices.::To stress that, although there has been a significant increase in the utilisation of agricultural contractor services and/or investment (often with TAMS grant-aid) in trailing shoe or dribble bar technologies as a result, and positives gained, the LESS requirements for farms stocked between 100 and 130kgs organic N must be reviewed by Government as a matter of urgency.::That alternative options are not practical, economically viable or even safe to use, with the net return by way of ammonia reductions questionable, relatively speaking, when compared to volume of those already using LESS techniques.::That most of the estimated 15,000 farms within the 100 and 130kg organic N category are small-scale lowly stocked farms, operating on very fragmented hold
Details: LESS (Low Emission Slurry Spreading) Requirements
