Veteran IFA leader to retire

THE general secretary of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Michael Berkery, yesterday announced his intention to retire from the position he has held for 25 years.

Widely regarded as a superb strategist, he was at the administrative helm in the IFA during some of the most momentous changes in the modern history of Irish and European agriculture.

A native of Toomevara, Co Tipperary, he served as general secretary with eight IFA presidents, and had dealings with six taoisigh and seven different ministers for agriculture.

He has played a key role in developing the IFA into one of the most powerful farm lobby groups in the EU, with 86,000 members in 945 units countrywide.

Mr Berkery joined the association in 1978 and held a number of executive positions before being appointed general secretary and chief executive officer in 1983.

Announcing his intention to retire at a meeting of the IFA executive council in Dublin yesterday, he said it had been his great privilege to serve Irish farmers, and to represent and advance their interests at the highest level.

“It has been a time of great change and development in Irish agriculture when we have had to meet huge challenges,” he said.

IFA president Pádraig Walshe said Mr Berkery had made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of Irish farmers’ interests.

He said Mr Berkery had driven all the great IFA campaigns and led its negotiations in the social partnership process from its start in 1987.

“It is fair to say that his political judgment and negotiating skills have delivered on issues time and again, and greatly improved the incomes of Irish farmers,” he said

Mr Berkery said he would continue in the IFA leadership and work closely with its president until his successor had been recruited and appointed.