Adviser to MinisterDeputy Chief of StaffSpecial AdviserSpecial Advisor
Observed Public Bodies
Department of Business, Enterprise and InnovationDepartment of Enterprise, Trade and EmploymentDepartment of HealthDepartment of Jobs, Enterprise and InnovationDepartment of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and ReformDepartment of the Taoiseach
Intent: To request an urgent meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) to relay grave concerns about the proposed new measures restricting farming activities on peatlands.::To highlight that the restrictions proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to meet the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) conditionality could effectively designate, by the back door, up to 720,000 hectares of land and significantly erode the economic sustainability of 42,000 herd owners, and the value of assets they hold.::To highlight how the lack of engagement by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) with impacted farmers, and the lack of of an adequate Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) impact assessment will result in restrictions that are far too severe and are unacceptable to farmers.::To call for an alternative solution that better supports rather than disadvantages the thousands of farmers potentially affected by this
Details: Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC2)
Intent: To make a submission in support of the inclusion of all items that are integral to the functioning and structure of farm buildings. Subsequent a meeting with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners IFA has been made aware of issues relating to the refund of VAT for the installation of water systems and water troughs. This is also covered in this submission.::Milk Bulk Tank::The milk bulk tank is a necessary piece of equipment for a dairy enterprise. A building which is named the “dairy” is specially designed to accommodate the bulk tank. The tank itself cannot be easily removed and has a life span of 20 plus years. While the bulk tank is equipment in nature, the tank is permanently fixed in place within the building it is housed in.::Considerable time, effort and expense would be involved in removing it. The tank would only be dissembled and separated from the building once its useful life has ended. In most instances due to the tank size once installed a concrete wall will be erected
Contact about a possible meeting to discuss - Informal communicationEvent in Leinster House to discuss - Event / ReceptionTo alert parties to an event to discuss - Email
Intent: To call for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make it a political priority that all farmers get into the Agri-Climate rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). Farmer participation in agri-environment schemes over the lifetime of this common Agricultural Policy (CAP) term cannot be limited to 50,000 ACRES participants. All farmers interested in an agri-environment scheme must be accommodated.::To highlight that anything beyond 50,000 ACRES places would be a political decision, so the Minister has to exert his influence within Government to make it happen.::To call for an extension to the deadline for hedgerows due to the lack of native supplies and very poor weather conditions.
Intent: To appeal to Irish MEP's to support a 'No' vote on the Nature Restoration Law.::While amendments have been made to the original proposal, there remains real and genuine concern among farmers, in particularly those operating on Hill and Natura 2000 sites, that there will be significant ramifications from passing this law in this proposed format.::To highlight that there is still a lot of ambiguity around what the law will mean, and with no impact assessment undertaken at Member State level, the impact on farm incomes, food production and farming practices is unclear.::To emphasise that farmers operating on designated lands cannot endure any further restrictions on farming practices. Adequate compensation, independent of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), must be provided to farmers for their endeavour and any lost income and/or asset value arising from this legislation. False promises were made in the past to farmers operating in designated areas. This must be rectified in first inst
Intent: To highlight the impact of reduced stocking rate thresholds on the entire agriculture sector.::- IFA analysis estimates that the reduction to a maximum stocking rate of 220kg organic nitrogen will have a cumulative sector cost of up to €60m per annum.::- A complete loss of the nitrates derogation would have massive ramifications both for Irish farmers and the downstream dairy processing sector.::- IFA estimate that the removal of the derogation entirely would reduce dairy income for the impacted farmers by an average of up to €23,000/annum; a huge drop given that average dairy family farm income for the last 5 years was about €87,000/annum.::To also highlight that the wider economic impact of the derogation would be even more significant. Using Dairy Industry Ireland analysis of the economic contribution of the dairy sector, IFA estimate that a loss of the derogation could result in over 1,100 job losses and a potential economic impact of over €1bn/annum when all direct and indirect fa
Details: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive : Implications for Ireland
Intent: To invite An Taoiseach to address the IFA 69th AGM.::To invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to address the IFA 69th AGM.::To invite the Minister of State (Heydon) at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to the IFA 69th AGM.::To invite the Minister of State (Hackett) at the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the IFA 69th AGM.
Intent: To propose that the Minister for Agriculture, Food, And the Marine considers interim payments to farmers who have qualified for ACRES in light of the delays with the overall payments to help alleviate the financial burden on farmers at this time of the year.::To highlight the frustration building among hill farmers at the delay and uncertainty surrounding Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) co-operation project (CP) payments. Low income families , particularly those in in vulnerable sectors, rely on agri-environment programmes to survive.::To emphasise that there has been huge frustration among farmers that payments had been delayed. The interim payment does recognise the hardship for farmers who had entered the scheme and who had expected payment late last year. It was very unfair to ask farmers to carry our works in the agri-environment scheme and then to leave them high and dry.::To meet with the Taoiseach to discuss the frustration of farmers at the delay in Agri-Climate
