Intent: To raise awareness of Oireachtas members on the urgent need for extra time for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties when sitting State Exams (Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate) as part of the accommodations offered within the RACE (Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations) scheme as administered by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
Details: Dyslexia Awareness Month Presentation for Oireachtas Members on The Need for Extra Time in State Exams
Invitations to Oireachas members before the event, and distribution of PDF of briefing to Oireachtas members (after the event). - EmailMeeting for Oireachtas members on October 8th 2024 at Buswells Hotel, as part of Dyslexia Awareness Month. - Meeting
Intent: To emphasise the importance of the Irish MEPs being part of the national effort to retain the current nitrates derogation. Ireland has a unique grass-based system and there must be recognition for this from the EU.::To highlight that over 30 measures have been introduced at farm level since 2020. These must be given time to work.::To highlight that one EU size does not fit all. Farmers need a period of certainty to justify making ongoing environmental investments.::To request that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin clarify his party's position on the Nitrates derogation. This follows comments by Fianna Fail's candidate in the Dublin European constituency Barry Andrews on the RTE Prime Time debate.::To highlight that the candidate clearly said he does not support the continuation of the derogation. This is at odds with the position of the Fianna Fáil Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue. Fianna Fáil must clarify their position immediately so that farmers are well informed.::To em
Intent: EU election candidates pledge to support the European Movement for Small-Scale Detention Housing - a just, sustainable, and community-integrated alternative to large prisons
Details: Support for the European Movement for Small-Scale Detention Housing
Intent: Retain the operation of the Culture and Education Committee into the future as a key driver of policy in this area
Details: Requesting support for the protection of the the EU Culture and Education committee and its work of supporting lifelong learning and the values of European democracy and social inclusion
Intent: To acknowledge the proposed revision of the Nitrates Directive announced by the European Commission to allow for an increase rate of 100kg /Ha of RENURE to be applied to land to increase nutrient circularity and improve on farm economics.::Given the increasing importance of digestate as a fertiliser, especially in the context of volatile mineral fertiliser prices and to the overall economics of Anaerobic Digestion Schemes, it is essential to ensure that the Nitrates Directive is amended in a suitable way that does not only promote the interests of a few member states with considerably larger capacities to refine manures.::The process of Anaerobic Digestion releases nutrient elements from feedstock previously bound up in complex organic compounds and thus are unavailable for plant uptake when material such as slurry is used as a fertilizer. Thus, the anaerobic digestion process not only produces a nutrient rich residual material which can be used as a fertilizer but increases nutrient a
Details: European Commission Public Consultation on Nitrates Directive - RENURE
Intent: To meet with the Local Election candidates and impress on them the difficulties facing Irish farmers and how they are required to stand strong and protect and promote on behalf of all farmers.::To seek better recognition of the positive contribution farmers make to society.::To propose a fair income and standard of living for current and future farming generations.::Emphasise that farmers need to farm and produce food and not be regulated out of existence.::Roadside Ash Dieback scheme is required urgently;::To highlight that a Roadside Ash dieback Scheme is required urgently. Diseased ash trees along public roads are posing a significant risk to all road users. A financial package is needed to allow Local Authorities to provide traffic management during felling and grants to support farmers to hire qualified professional to safely fell the trees.::Unfair Taxes (Residential Zoned Land Tax RZLT), water charges and rates must be resisted;::To emphasise that farmers are private landowners
Intent: To highlight that, while IFA acknowledges the draft Implementing Act, which is part of the European Commission's simplification package, it is on the proviso that greater flexibility and efficiency gains afforded to paying agencies yields direct and obvious gains for Irish farmers in the form of improved administration and reduced verification/certification requirements.::To acknowledge that geo-tagged photos are now not mandatory eligibility criteria (confined to Copernicus Sentinel).::To acknowledge that Article 10(4) deletion eases pressure to have the geo-tagged measure covered by Area Monitoring systems (AMS) by 1.1.2027.::To seek reassurance that paying agencies cannot utilise the proposed amendments to create more interventions into the 'verification' mix via the 'other data of at least equivalent value' element (particularly in the context of results-based approach).::To propose that use of geo-tagged photos/equivalent alternatives should be proportionate and only used to sati
Details: Draft Implementing Act re geo-tagged photos
Intent: For candidates to commit to raising this in the EU parliament if elected to encourage the Irish Government to act on the recommendations of the WHO IGAP
Details: Raising the implementation of the World Health Organisation Global Action Plan on Epilepsy with candidates in the European Elections
