More than 500 attend last IFA election debate
Due to the overflow crowd, special arrangements were needed for questions from the floor in the conference room of the Tullamore Court Hotel.
On the day IFA members from the association’s 947 branches started voting, presidential candidates Henry Burns (Laois), Flor McCarthy (Kerry), and Joe Healy (Galway) all put in sterling performances.
They tackled topics such as the remuneration package for the yet to be appointed general secretary, their levels of experience at European level, Bord Bia inspections of farms, over-regulation of agro-chemicals for tillage farms, climate change, how the IFA can rebuild the trust of members and restore its credentials as a lobby group, and how candidates would support traditional cattle breeds.
Flor McCarthy called for the IFA’s commercial businesses to be run separately from the main organisation which he said “should represent members”. He said the organisation under his leadership would “fight the banks who try to sell off the loans of distressed farmers without first giving them an opportunity to buy out their loans’’.
He also called for “an end to farmers being penalised for minor infringements in inspections”.
In his address to delegates, Henry Burns said: “We are all here because we care about this organisation but furthermore we need it to work”. He said IFA was first formed from splinter groups, and transformed into a powerful lobby group for farmers.
“IFA must adapt to its changing membership base, with more and more part-time farmers.’.
He also called for “a yellow card system” for farm inspections, so farmers would not be booted out of a scheme for minor infringements.
Joe Healy said: “IFA must reconnect with farmers and also ensure transparency.
“IFA branches need to be more vibrant, meet more regularly, and the Association needs to adopt a ‘bottom-up’ approach, where the voice of grassroots members is heard”. He said IFA must be “to the fore on all issues affecting farmers, including the flooding crisis’’.
All three presidential candidates agreed it was essential that IFA get the right man for the job as general secretary, but refused to be drawn on a specific salary.
Each candidate was asked what boards they currently sit on, who nominated them to such boards, and what remuneration if any they receive.
Flor McCarthy confirmed he was not on any, Henry Burns said he was on a number of boards due to his role as IFA livestock chairman, only one of which paid any remuneration, while Joe Healy confirmed he was on three boards, only one of which paid remuneration, which was just under €4,000.
The presidential debate was preceded by the deputy presidential debate, where all three candidates, Richard Kennedy (Limerick) , Pat Farrell (Kildare), and Nigel Renaghan (Monaghan), promised to be active as deputy presidents, particularly in encouraging disaffected members of the IFA to return to the organisation.
The IFA elections will conclude on April 15 with counting of votes, and a new president is expected to be named on April 19.
