Reynolds dons the mantle of Mr Clean
As IFA presidential and deputy presidential candidates at meetings across the country went head-to-head in debate, Reynolds or other members of the Family Farm Protection Group (FFPG), popped up at meeting after meeting to put awkward questions to the candidates.
In their declared quest "to restore trust, honour and integrity in the IFA", Reynolds has not been fully satisfied with their answers, and last week wrote to IFA's Chairman of the National Rules Committee and National Returning Officer, Seamus O'Brien, lodging complaints against three senior IFA officers, including two current presidential candidates.
It's an unusual development for IFA, which has a cleaner image than national politics.
Reynolds says he wants to keep it clean, and wants IFA 100% "above board", by demanding that full disclosure of IFA election candidates' non-farming interests be made readily available to every IFA member, and looking for full accountability of IFA executives.
The self funded FFPG is dedicated to IFA reform. Reynolds says it is run by a committee of seven, most of whom were active four years ago in the campaign to elect John Dillon as IFA president, and including three members of IFA's National Council and one county chairman, all of whom risk suspension from IFA for their FFPG activities.
"To today's candidates in the election for the IFA presidency, there is one message, those who supported John Dillon's election platform for the radicalisation of farming politics have not gone away. There must be transparency in decision making at all levels in the organisation, and this must mean actual and full democratic accountability in policy making and in the day to day running of the organisation", demands Reynolds.
One of his main targets is the levy on livestock going through meat factories, which processors pay to IFA. "There is a clear conflict of interest in the current method, which compromises the ability of the IFA to successfully face down the meat processing industry which manipulates the beef and lamb market for its own advantage", says Reynolds.
"There must be full disclosure of all corporate donations to the IFA, and all donations to IFA candidates. A register of corporate donations must be established and this should be available to all IFA members", demands Reynolds, who was chairman of IFA in Longford for four years, until he dropped out to contest the County Council election in 2004.
Already IFA president John Dillon has responded to Reynolds by defending his own presidential achievements, including this year's IFA reform, which he says makes IFA leaders in the counties key players at national level.
He defends the IFA staff as a "dedicated and highly committed professional support team", in which, he says, "under-performance is not tolerated."
The names of all IFA officers and staff who are members of outside bodies are published annually at the AGM and subject to ratification by national council, points out the IFA president.
"Election candidates are required to make a full disclosure of their interests outside farming to the IFA Returning Officer", he said, in his response to the Family Farm Protection Group.
Reynolds has hit back with allegations that major policy decisions were made without even consulting IFA's National Council.
And his official complaint to National Returning Officer Seamus O'Brien - demanding he convene a Rules Committee inquiry and take appropriate disciplinary actions to protect IFA integrity - shows "Mr Clean" won't be put off track easily.
