Angry Thompson is considering his position
David Thompson, Council member for Limerick has told a Limerick IFA meeting he is "bitterly disappointed" with the way the review of the Association's structure was handled.
In emotional tones, the former National President of the Agricultural Science Association told his fellow farmers at Adare, Co Limerick, that changes "were pushed through" during the eight-hour meeting, and he hoped that the outcome will not have serious consequences for the organisation. After the meeting, "people are feeling bruised and sore", he said.
County Chairman Michael O'Flynn, who also attended the Council meeting, described it as "not the most pleasant meeting, with insults flying in all directions", but said there was a determination to drive the reform through, whatever it took. Kilmallock farmer, John McNamara said, "Every single National Council representative from Limerick has worked their guts out for the organisation, and came out the poorer in their pocket rather than richer".
He added, "If there is not going to be orderly, civilised behaviour, there is little point in going to meetings".
"For the amount of time and energy that David Thompson has put into the IFA, to insult him is not acceptable to this executive. It is a black day for the Limerick Executive."
"This is no way to do business, IFA is not a company or a plc, it is an organisation run by voluntary members at the grass roots. If the organisation does not have the support of the grassroots, it will be the loser", he said.
Simon White, a member of the IFA National Health Committee abolished in the review said he was "appalled" at the lack of discussion of the review at the grass roots level.
He warned that some parts of the review will harm the organisation, and hinted at doubts over his own future in IFA.
"I will find myself less inclined to put my shoulder to the wheel as before. I don't see myself or others being involved in the new structure". John O'Shea, Kildimo said the Council meeting should not have taken place to finalise the review until the Executive had the opportunity to discuss the changes.
The key structural change approved in IFA last week reduced the executive council from 70 members to 52, giving county executives a much stronger say.
Weighted branch voting, giving more votes for branches with strong turnouts, will be in place this year. There will be incentives to include more women delegates at county level. Professional staff resources will be deployed to improve farm income in important new areas such as dealing with consumers and supermarkets.
