Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman will meet with Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin separately today (Tuesday, September 10) to discuss “key farming priorities” in the short and medium term.
The meeting comes ahead of Budget 2025, which is set to be announced in three weeks time.
Gorman said that his meetings with the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will be an opportunity to discuss the significant pressures on farm families after of the 57% drop in farm incomes over the last 12 months.
“Vulnerable sectors” will form a particular focus for these meetings, he said.
“[Those sectors] face the biggest challenges in trying to reach viability. We have targeted proposals that would add to existing supports,” the IFA president said.
He also said that he would raise the issue of the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, and the plans to exempt farmers from the scope of the tax.
The meetings are also set to touch on incentives and reliefs that could help the sector to reach its climate targets and encourage new entrants.
“In the medium term, the nitrates derogation is a priority and we will discuss the visit of the European Commission officials next week,” Gorman said.
“We will want to see a united show of strength by the government parties in making the case to the commission for its retention.”
He also called on the government to begin the groundwork to secure an outcome that recognises the attributes of Irish farming ahead of discussions on the next CAP.
“Once the new European Commission is in place, we expect the government to make an early intervention in the debate and leave an imprint on the proposals,” Gorman commented.
With Budget 2025 approaching, farm oganisations and industry bodies are vying for their asks to be included.
Yesterday (Monday, September 9), AgTech Ireland said that delivering a renewal of the nitrates derogation was a high-priority for farmers and industry.
As part of their pre-budget submission, AgTech Ireland called for support for the agtech industry as a key requirement to meet water quality targets and retain the derogation.
AgTech Ireland chairperson Padraig Hennessy said that, for farmers to deliver on the required water quality improvements, as well as their climate obligations and biodiversity restoration, this will require financial supports, including for the agtech industry.