ICMSA members demand more power
Both organisations will announce new presidents on December 20. IFA members are voting in 946 branches, but the next head of ICMSA will be elected by 87 National Council members without any official mandate from farmers in the regions they represent on how to vote.
The call for change has come from ICMSA's traditional Co Limerick stronghold, where members have also called for re-structuring of their National Council.
County Chairman and National Council members Gerard Quain told the Annual General Meeting of Limerick ICMSA, "I am a long time advocate of the need for rule changes in the organisation and I think it is time that we had a major review, with more say given to members in the election of leaders. We need a complete overhaul, because tinkering around with minor issues is not getting anywhere."
Former ICMSA President Frank Allen said the National Council has become too big to be effective and needs to be restructured.
"The Council representation for each county is based on the income to the organisation from that county. I think that is totally wrong and needs to be reviewed. It is leading to counties with very few members holding seats on council."
Farmers at the meeting claimed that the National Council had become less effective because it was harder for 87 members to make decisions.
There were also calls for greater concentration on issues which concern dairy farmers.
