Martin Connolly

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: Sligo has a massive shortage of land for development which is holding back the economic recovery of the town and making it impossible for first time buyers to purchase new homes. The optimum result for the greater good is to have more residential land zoned in Sligo.

Details: Lobbied all Sligo County Councillors and Sligo CEO Martin Lydon, as well a housing Minister Darragh O'Brien and Eoin O'Broin Sinn Fein TD to remove land from the Strategic Reserve in the Residential Zoned Land for current development.

Intent: Sligo has a massive shortage of land for development which is holding back the economic recovery of the town and making it impossible for first time buyers to purchase new homes. The optimum result for the greater good is to have more residential land zoned in Sligo.

Details: Lobbied all Sligo County Councillors and Sligo CEO Martin Lydon, as well a housing Minister Darragh O'Brien and Eoin O'Broin Sinn Fein TD to remove land from the Strategic Reserve in the Residential Zoned Land for current development.

Intent: To raise political awareness and support for Rehab Group. To discuss the challenges that face people with disabilities living in the area. To discuss Rehab Group's manifesto. They raised the issue of local bus charges.

Details: The Hub, Tubbercurry, Co.Sligo. Service users from RehabCare and students from National Learning Network met with T.D. Frank Feighan, Fine Gael and Councillor Martin Connolly, Fine Gael. 13th May.

Intent: Sligo has a massive shortage of land for development which is holding back the economic recovery of the town and making it impossible for first time buyers to purchase new homes. The optimum result for the greater good is to have more residential land zoned in Sligo.

Details: Lobbied all Sligo County Councillors and Sligo CEO Martin Lydon, as well as housing Minster Darragh O'Brien and Eoin OBroin Sinn Fein TD to remove land from the Strategic reserve in the Residential Zoned Land for current development.

Intent: To highlight the need for a ‘mixed technology’ policy approach to achieve a 'Just Transition' to decarbonisation which ensures choice and affordability for rural off natural gas grid households and businesses.

Details: Communications regarding attendance and participation at Liquid Gas Ireland's event series on a 'Just Transition' for rural Ireland.

Intent: To highlight the need for a ‘mixed technology’ policy approach to achieve a 'Just Transition' to decarbonisation which ensures choice and affordability for rural off natural gas grid households and businesses.

Details: Outreach regarding attendance at Liquid Gas Ireland's event series on a 'Just Transition' for rural Ireland.

Intent: To ask for support for the NWC YES YES campaign

Details: Referendums on Family & Care

Intent: To voice farmers' anger and frustration at the ever-increasing administrative burden being placed on them which has had a a major impact on farm family incomes.::To highlight the following key issues that are contributing to growing frustration and anger with the political system::1. The transformation of CAP away from supporting food production towards actually reducing farm output. 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. The failure of the EU to properly compensate farmers under CAP. In 2014, Ireland received €1.16bn in Pillar one funding from EU – that figure is effectively the same today, 10 years on, despite huge inflation in farmers' cost of production in the interim. Farmers are being asked to do much more to receive a lot less funds in real terms.::3. The proposed Mercusor trade dea

Details: Sligo 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