Richard O'Donoghue

Informing stakeholders about Irish forestry issues, policies and programmes; and seeking greater improvements within the sector.

To highlight that the budget of the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine is reduced from €2.14bn to €1.94bn, a 10% reduction. This is a long way short of what is required to bolster a sector which is struggling with high input costs, lower commodity prices and…

To secure supports for yf

To set out ICMSA concerns on various policy matters.

Delivery of supports for the Horticultural sector

Delivery of supports for the Horticultural sector

Delivery of supports for the Horticultural sector

To highlight the growing concern among farmers regarding the potential health and safety risk posed by infected ash trees to road users, but also for themselves as the felling of infected trees is very challenging and poses significant safety risks.::To emphasise that a support…

To highlight how the New Ash Dieback Scheme must compensate for loss of timber asset.::To require a 100% reconstitution grant for all infected plantations, enabling forest owners to clearfell and replant with tree species that satisfy their management objectives.::To propose…

To highlight how successive Government policies have restricted eligible land, eroded productive area, increased the regulatory burden and have made farmers wary of committing their land. The risks associated with planting have become too great.::To emphasise that the Government…

Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027 main issues and key asks in ensuring the next forestry programme works for communities, practitioners, and land owners, whilst also delivering on climate change objectives.

To highlight the following issues with the Bill::- In the Bill, there remains a distinct lack of reference to the price that primary producers get paid by dominant food buyers in the food chain.::- The reality is the 5 mains retailers and 3 main food service providers operating…

To brief Members of the Oireachtas on the Nitrates Derogation::Member States must apply to the European Commission every four years to be granted a nitrates derogation. Strict criteria must be met in order to get a derogation. Member states must demonstrate that the higher…

Continued funding for the service from the Department of Agriculture.

To brief Oireachtas Members of the details of the current Nitrates Action Programme::The EU Nitrates Directive requires Member States to review water quality at least every four years and to create a Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). This programme outlines a suite of…