IFA needs to rebuild credibility says Fine Gael MEP

A Fine Gael MEP has said it is essential the IFA rebuilds its credibility to be a strong lobby group for farmers.

Mairead McGuinness said that she is shocked at the damning revelations from the Con Lucey report into IFA remuneration for senior officials.

It showed that former General-Secretary Pat Smith was paid almost a half a million euro a year.

Mairead McGuiness is warning that farmers need a strong voice to continue to fight for their rights: "This organisation was built by the blood, sweat and tears of people who walked the Irish countryside, spent time in jail for the right to be heard and represented,

“That it has come to this is upsetting, but it doesn’t mean that it cannot reform itself, at a time when it was never more critical to do that.”