Politics code of practice needed for IFA leadership candidates
It is not surprising that people who establish high profiles, and accumulate a lot of experience in leadership, representation and negotiation, are targeted by political parties to stand for them in elections.
What has surprised is that so many of these people, having jumped successfully into politics, disappointed their farmer supporters, who had respected them as farming leaders and followed through with national election votes.
The short step from farming leadership to political seats has raised questions among farmers as to the extent of double-jobbing by their leaders who may have been courting political nominations while representing farmers.
Political intentions on completion of office has become a frequent topic for query now from farming organisation members, when leadership candidates present themselves at the front door. The response is always the same, but there have been too many conversions on the road to Damascus afterwards, too many smooth transitions from farming leadership to politics.
This is not good for the image of a farming organisation. It rubs off on all farming leadership aspirants, genuine or otherwise.
With less than 10 months to go before another election for the leadership of the IFA, it is understandable that the focus of attention is turning to the “after life” for outgoing president, John Dillon. He has sidestepped offers of a nomination from Fine Gael for the next General Election in his home constituency of East Limerick.
Any such offer must be very tempting, and it is not before time that a better code of practice was set down for those taking up farmer leadership, which would remove the suspicion of political platform building that can hang unfairly on genuine farm leaders.
