Micheál Martin

A focus on competitiveness and simplification to support SMEs during Ireland's Presidency

A strong focus from Ireland which is hosting the EU Presidency on competitiveness and trade

Government to consider hosting some of the 23 EU Presidency meetings, due to take place in Ireland in July 2026, in Waterford.

That adequate resources should be deployed to DAFM staffing, IT infrastructure, etc, to ensure the swift delivery of payments per the Farmers Charter of Rights, where required on foot of MFF/CAP Reform. Individual cases (incl. partnerships), which require additional processing,…

In view of EU Council's failure to suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement, call on Irish Government to show leadership and act as though the Agreement had been suspended; if feels it legally cannot do this, to take legal action against the EU before CJEU to compel suspension

• Dedicated income supports, based on area-based payments, should be retained and distributed, together with a new ‘Farm Activity Support Scheme', only to genuine active farmers engaged in food and agricultural production.::• All genuine active farmers should get at least 70% of…

• Pillar II must be retained within the traditional CAP structure, and used, together with maximum permissible levels of national co-financing to provide vital supports (of lesser number but at increased payment rates to retain overall payment amounts) to farmers in the more…

• With the possibility of increased orientation toward performance-based payments in the next CAP, below are some lessons from the current CAP for consideration::• Simplify performance-based payments. Alleviate the burden of proof/verification required to receive payments by…

That the implementation of the next MFF or CAP must not create more unviable farmers or rural areas; instead, it should focus on supporting sustainable productivity growth, with additional targeted interventions for young farmers, those in vulnerable sectors, and those on…

• Attracting and retaining new entrants to farming remains a fundamental challenge across most Member States, with tackling Generational Renewal among the top priorities of the new Commission. CAP is a pivotal generational renewal mechanism in this regard, but to truly address…

To ensure opportunities arising from Ireland's presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026 are realised fully, including opportunities for the inclusion of regions in the programme of events and priorities for the presidency.

Requesting government to ratify ILO Convention No. 192 and formally classify Covid-19 as an occupational disease in Ireland.

To highlight that it cannot be underestimated how important the outcome of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal will be to Irish farmers, particularly for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programme and the future of Rural Development in…

To alert the Taoiseach and Tanaiste that we hoped Ireland would make a resolute commitment to ensuring that the suspension of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel was finally decided at the meeting

To discuss MSD's footprint in Ireland, to discuss the EU competitiveness and the policy and operating environment for the pharmaceutical industry in Europe.