The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has been included in the list of the 'top 10 political lobbying organisations' for 2024.

In response to a parliamentary question (PQ) from Sinn Féin TD, Maurice Quinlivan, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke supplied the list.

According to the minister, the IFA recorded 67 lobbying returns in 2024.

Lobbying occurs when an organisation, such as the IFA, communicates directly or indirectly with a "designated public official", such as a TD, about the "initiation, development or modification of any public policy, the preparation or amendment of any law, and the award of any grant, contract or other authorisation using public funds".

The Standards Commission is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Register of Lobbying, which is available for the public to view online.

This register contains the registration details provided to the Standards Commission by each registered person on their application to register, and the information contained in the returns of lobbying activities made by each registered person.

In his answer, Minister Burke said: "This response is based on collated information contained in that register for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for the period, published after January 1, 2024 and published before December 31, 2024.

"Information is published on the register three times per year, therefore the following information may include numbers for the final four months in 2023 and may not include the numbers for the final four months of 2024," he added.

The statistics reflect the total number of returns filed by subject matter, for the relevant period. They do not reflect the volume or extent of lobbying activity conducted for each subject or within each return.