Executive of IFA survives vote of no confidence

The executive of the Irish Farmer's Association has survived a vote of no confidence tonight.

It follows the release of the report into pay and structures at the body by Con Lucey the former chief economist with the IFA.

Mr Lucey has revealed the former general secretary Pat Smith earned €3.4 m between 2009 and 2015, an average packet of €492,000 a year.

But he said the pay levels of executive staff are broadly in line with those in the Civil Service.

Today's meeting got underway at 11am this morning and the Irish Farmers Journal's Pat O'Toole has the latest.

"The executive council has considered motions of confidence, a variety of them, initially there was motions in the entire executive board, they were defeated.

"Then there was specific motions relating to Tim O'Leary and Jer Bergin and they've also been considered voted on and defeated.

"So the executive board has effectively received a vote of confidence from the council and remains in situ."