Martin Heydon

Lobby for higher payments to farmers, including €300 per suckler cow and €35/ewe, ensuring that combined scheme rates (Sheep Welfare + Sheep Improvement Scheme; Beef Welfare + SCEP) adequately support family farm incomes and reflect the need for progression rather than…

Advocate for enhanced policies and ring-fenced funding to genuinely support generational renewal, particularly in drystock enterprises where low incomes hinder younger farmers from taking over farms, ensuring succession is facilitated beyond existing tax reliefs.

Advocate for safeguards to protect Irish and EU sheep producers from undercutting by imported lamb linked to Dawn Meats’ global expansion. Highlight risks to domestic prices, seasonal market stability, and fair competition, and call for government and EU review of the deal’s…

Advocate for robust protections for Irish and EU farmers against undercutting by Mercosur imports. Call for proper parliamentary scrutiny, transparency, and accountability in EU trade negotiations, and for the government to take decisive action to prevent negative impacts on…

Advocate for policies and funding that strengthen the role of women in agriculture, including recognition in farm succession, access to leadership programs, advisory services, and targeted supports to ensure gender equality and opportunities for women in all sectors of Irish…

Promote the ICSA Life Focus initiative, which provides peer to peer support and discussion on farmer mental health, rural isolation, family and farm succession issues, and related life challenges, calling for greater policy focus on wellbeing supports in agriculture.

To raise awareness particularly of the Cultivate agri-finance loans, highlight new lending limits and opportunities for credit unions

Raise issues and highlight positive developments in the credit union sector particularly levies, lending limits and opportunities for growth

To propose funding for the ANCs is increased by an additional €50 million, bringing the total budget for the scheme to €300 million::To propose that the eligible area for an improved ANC scheme should be increased from the maximum current 34Ha to 45Ha

To propose::• Increased resources should be allocated to swiftly resolve the backlog in application approvals and the issuing of payments.::• Alongside unutilised allocated TAMS funding from previous years, adequate funding is required to optimise necessary on-farm investment…

To propose::• A Forgotten Farmer scheme be introduced, with all farmers meeting the above parameters eligible to apply for a one-off payment equivalent to what they would have received under the Installation Aid scheme, together with the following and/or equivalent schemes::-…

To propose::• Grant aid from the Climate and Nature fund to be made available from 2026 to all farmers with 70% grant aid for manure/slurry storage facilities.::• Slurry separation equipment grant aided by 70% to assist in reduction of storage capacity requirements on farm.::•…

To propose::• Introduction of a min 50% capital grant for development of farmer owned farm scale biogas plants – financed through Infrastructure and Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) and or/feed in tariff::• Immediate introduction of Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO)::• Introduction…

To propose that maintenance grants for new and existing walks must be provided.::To propose that there needs to be greater promotion and stricter enforcement of the ‘No Dogs Allowed' policy.::To propose that any amenities or walkways within the jurisdiction of Local Authorities…

To propose that, to encourage farmers to grow protein crops such as peas, beans, lupins and combi-crops, rates up to €600/ha for beans/ peas/lupins should be offered, 50% for combi-crops.