Additional info: Follow up email to Senator Eileen Flynn on 8 July 2025 signaling our availability to discuss the legislation with her. - EmailDirect emails sent to members of the Oireachtas on 26 June 2025 to invite members of the Oireachtas to a FLAC briefing concerning the 2025 Bill. - EmailEmail of 14 May 2025 to Dara Calleary TD, Minister for Social Protection, following up on earlier letter sent by FLAC seeking a meeting with him to seek the Minister's support for FLAC's proposed amendments to the 2025 Bill. - Email
Intent: That the Government and MEPs must honour their commitments to stand up for farmers and defend their interests by opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.::To discuss farmers' concerns with the Minister for Foreign Affairs::To reiterate strong opposition to the Mercosur agreement in its current form. The beef industry in Ireland supports 90,000 farmers and around 25,000 jobs and is critical to the rural economy. There are very strong concerns about the impact the EU-Mercosur trade agreement would have on the viability of some 90,000 families.::That, while it is often argued that an additional 99,000t of beef from the Mercosur block countries would represent only 1-2% of the EU beef market, this statistic is in fact very misleading. The high value EU steak market (fillet, striploin, and cube) will be targeted by Mercosur beef exporters and will impact EU producers' ability to achieve a positive return on the carcass. 30% of the value of the carcass is contained within the yield of high
Intent: Restoration of the 9% rate of VAT for hospitality food services::Measures to improve cost competitiveness and avoid any further cost increases::For a review to be carried out of options for assisting hotels to develop employer-led staff accommodation across the sector::Targeted funding for a national hotel retrofitting scheme to reduce carbon footprint::Increased investment and support for tourism marketing both domestically and overseas.::Insurance reform and policy to avoid any additional increases in insurance costs::Increased investment in training and skills development within the sector::Robust enforcement of regulations around short term lettings::Additional resources for tourism economic research::Avoid the introduction of a tourist tax::Increased air access including removal of cap at Dublin airport
Details: Seeking Government measures to support the continued recovery of Ireland's tourism and hospitality industry
Letters urging the Government not to introduce a tax targeting tourists - LetterLobbying event for members of the Oireachtas seeking tourism supports in Budget 2026 - Event / ReceptionSeeking tourism supports in Budget 2026, including restoration of 9% VAT for hospitality food services - Letter
Intent: To inform TDs and Senators about The Wheel's priorities for Budget 2026, which includes issues such as sustainable funding for the sector, equality of pay, increased compliance requirements, and the hidden infrastructure provided by the sector in areas such as health, social care, housing and climate action.
Details: The Wheel hosted launch event for our Pre-Budget Submission 2026. It comprised a panel discussion with speakers from community and voluntary organisations and an overview of The Wheel's priorities for Budget 2026. We invited Ministers, TDs and Senators from the most relevant departments and joint Oi, ...
Intent: To inform members of the Joint Committee about The Wheel's priorities for Budget 2026. This includes issues such as sustainable funding for the sector, equality of pay, increased compliance requirements, and the hidden infrastructure provided by the sector in areas such as health, social care, housing and climate action.
Details: Policy staff from The Wheel were invited to address the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development regarding our Pre-Budget Submission 2026.
Intent: To oppose the introduction of any mandatory restrictions on peat soils. The Ministers must defer any implementation of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC -2) in 2025 and ensure that the upcoming EU Simplification Package no longer makes GAEC-2 a condition of receiving Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) payments.
Intent: That the Minister must meet with IFA to agree on and implement a consistent and adequately resourced TB scheme, including dealing with infected wildlife, in all counties.::To highlight that this is an issue that requires urgent and meaningful actions to be brought back under control, but these actions must be well thought out, have a robust scientific basis and quantifiable in the contribution they will make to reducing TB levels.::That the measures and the entirety of the programme must have transparent KPI's that allow real time monitoring of effectiveness in reducing TB levels and where not contributing to these targets there must be flexibility within the programme to have them removed. All measures in the programme must refer to and identify the scientific studies that informed their inclusion in the programme.::That, while there is an urgency to enhance the programme, it should not be at the expense of the time necessary to identify the most appropriate and effective measures th
Intent: That the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine should immediately pay all ACRES participants who have not received payment from national funds.::To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine; regarding the current number of farmers still awaiting ACRES payment; what plans are in place to clear the backlog.
Intent: That the Government must redouble its efforts to lobby for the retention of the Derogation, honour its commitments on nutrient storage, and continue to focus on improving water quality from all sources.::To seek clarification on several critical matters. During a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, & the Marine, IFA were informed that the European Commission has requested the Irish Government to demonstrate more detailed compliance with the Habitats Directive as part of Ireland's application for the renewal of the nitrates derogation beyond 2025::To request that, in the interest of transparency, it is vital that the formal written communication from the Commission outlining this request is made available to stakeholders as a matter of urgency.::To demonstrate serious concerns that the requirement to prepare an Appropriate Assessment (AA) plan at catchment and/or sub-catchment level introduces significant additional legal and administrative burdens on Irish farmers. This ap
Details: Nitrates Derogation - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025
