Radical changes proposed for IFA
It was carried out on behalf of the Irish Farmers’ Association and deals with how to best represent the interests of its 87,000 strong farmer membership in the years ahead.
The report was carried out by Michael Dowling, former secretary general of the Department of Agriculture.
Mr Dowling’s own consultancy of the same name carried out the report on the IFA’s behalf.
Among the changes recommended in the report are the reduction of the National Council from 68 to 50 members.
Under the proposals the new council would have a majority of 29 county chairmen, representing the executives around the country.
Other members would be the national committee chairmen and the president, four vice presidents and the treasurer/returning officer.
A new seven member executive board would be responsible for policy implementation and the day to day affairs of the Association subject to Executive Council approval.
In another major proposal the report recommends that project teams be set up to deal with specific issues for the modern farmer. Animal health, hill farming nitrates etc could be handled in this way in the future.
The aim is to give the association more flexibility and to ensure a rapid response project by project.
If the plans are accepted, several powerful units within the IFA would go, including the powerful Beet Committee.
Out also will be the Animal Health and the Western Committee.
TB eradication could also have a project committee dedicated to the issue.
Project committees are favoured due to the sharper focus they can bring to a specific issue, said an IFA spokesman.
In another major move that could anger the smaller branches in the 940 nationwide branch system, weighting is to be introduced.
That will replace the one branch/one vote system that saw John Dillon elected president.
Some observers believe the move to change to a weighted voting system was inspired by Mr Dillon’s victory against the odds the last time.
The changes will be voted on as a total package at a specially convened meeting of the National Council on 18 August 2004.
