Pat Smith quits IFA post amid calls for pay transparency

Pat Smith has resigned as general secretary and chief executive of the IFA, amid public debate over his annual pay package.

While the IFA has resisted calls for transparency on salaries paid to their senior executives, Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuiv added to the pressure on the farming organisation by claiming in media reports that Mr Smith had an annual pay package worth up to €400,000.

The IFA’s executives voted against publishing details of Mr Smith’s salary, despite calls for transparency from its own members.

In announcing his resignation, Mr Smith said: “The IFA is bigger than any one person. I have decided to put the best interests of the Association to the fore.

"It has been a great honour and privilege to work with IFA for the past 25 years.

"I want to wish IFA and the voluntary officers well and I would like to thank the dedicated staff for their loyalty and commitment during my time in IFA.”

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The IFA president, Eddie Downey, said Mr Smith’s resignation was very regrettable and a great loss to the IFA and to Irish farmers.

He thanked Mr Smith for having developed the IFA into one of the most effective and professional representative organisations in the country.

“I want to thank Pat Smith and his family for their commitment to Irish farmers for the last 25 years.

"As general secretary, he has provided wise counsel to the leadership as they dealt with many difficult issues, from a divisive CAP reform to securing nearly 50% co-financing for the rural development programme and tax measures in the last number of budgets.”

IFA president, Eddie Downey

He said Mr Smith oversaw the growth in the IFA’s membership to its highest ever level, with more than 88,000 people registered.

Mr Smith also helped create organisations such as Agri-Aware and IFA Member Services.

This IFA has decided that a strengthened remuneration committee will decide upon the pay and conditions of its senior personnel.

That committee is to meet within the next few weeks and will take on board all views from members before reporting to IFA’s executive council.