11th December 2025Met Jack Chambers at stakeholder event re the Accelerating Infrastructure Plan and had an engagement about the importance of designing in district heating while infrastructure is being built - Event / Reception13th November 2025Minister Darragh O'Brien and Margie McCarthy attended and spoke at annual conference of IrDEA. Had informal conversations and received updates - Event / Reception1st October 2025Met Erin McGreehan to discuss district heating in Louth - Meeting
Intent: To express the Chamber’s strong support for the Athlone 2040 project, an ambitious plan to grow Athlone into a sustainable, 100,000-population, 15-minute green city by 2040. We sought to reinforce political backing for the initiative, highlight its potential for economic and community transformation, and encourage continued commitment and investment from national and local representatives.
Meeting with Minister Heydon with regards to Fishery Issues. - MeetingMeeting with the EU Commissioner and Minister Dooley at Castletownbere, Co. Cork with regards to EU Fishing, Common Fishery Policy and Brexit - MeetingMeeting with various Irish MEPs in Brussels with regard to Irish Fishery Issues - Meeting
Intent: To provide recommendations to the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union with respect to the provisions on homelessness in the 'Draft Report on the housing crisis in the EuropeanUnion with the aim of proposing solutions for decent, sustainable and affordable housing'.::To provide recommendations to the Committee onEmployment and Social Affairs with respect to the housing and homelessness elements of the 'Draft Report on Developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy'.::To collaborate with other civil society organisations and engage constructively with the European Commission on the Affordable Housing Plan.
Details: Event in the European Parliament entitled “Building an EU strategy to eliminate homelessness”
Coordination with MEPs & staff regarding participation and attendance. - Informal communicationIncluded coordination with our host Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and a short briefing for Michael McNamara, who could not attend the event in person. - MeetingInvitations and follow-ups with individual MEP offices. - Email
One meeting with each DPO in Brussels on the same topic - to ask for MEPs support in making sure Lisbon Treaty Article 174 is adhered to, in island-proofing EU policies and funding programmes, and supporting the requests with regards to enabling the sustainability of small scale fishing on the offshore islands - Meeting
Intent: The message from rural Ireland is clear: those delivering the work—Agricultural and Forestry Contractors—must be part of the solution. Their inclusion in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for 2028 and beyond will drive climate progress, strengthen rural economies, and ensure a fairer future. FCI would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss how this can be structured effectively.
Details: Inclusion of Agricultural and Forestry Contractors under TAMS and the 2028 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
The message from rural Ireland is clear: those delivering the work—Agricultural and Forestry Contractors—must be part of the solution. Their inclusion in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for 2028 and beyond will drive climate progress, strengthen rural economies, and ensure a fairer future. FCI would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss how this can be structured effectively. - Email
