IFA chief: We’re not control freaks
Mr Reynolds was chairman of Longford county executive of IFA for four years from March 1999 to April 2003.
He stepped out of the IFA to contest the county council elections in June 2004.
During his four years as an IFA county chairman, Mr Reynolds participated in all aspects of IFA activities and decision-making. At all stages, he was satisfied with the accountability of all IFA officers and officials.
But his imagination now seems to have got the better of him. The timing might not be unconnected to the current IFA presidential elections.
He is being quite mischievous in promoting false impressions of centralised control in IFA.
My own record and election as a grassroots president disproves his theories and I want to set the record straight on his main points.
He knows well that, from the start, I used my democratic mandate to involve IFA county chairmen in all important decisions, on issues such as national partnership, the Fischler CAP reform proposals, the budget, etc.
Indeed, as Longford chairman, James Reynolds himself was present at many national council meetings at my invitation and he participated in all the big decisions. That’s not ‘behind closed doors,’ as alleged; that’s transparency and democratic involvement.
Regarding staff, skilled managers over the years have built a dedicated and highly committed professional support team. Their pay rates and conditions are not political football.
There is a tough, continual assessment regime for staff; underperformance is not tolerated and new blood is recruited as necessary.
The names of all IFA officers and staff who are members of outside bodies are published annually at the AGM and subject to ratification by national council.
Election candidates are required to make a full disclosure of their interests outside farming to the IFA returning officer.
Finally, I want to remind James Reynolds that I have delivered what I promised by reforming the council to give the counties a permanent built-in majority of the votes. I have put the county chairmen on the council, so that the IFA leaders in the counties are now key players at national level.
These reforms will copperfasten democratic accountability and stand as my legacy to the IFA when I step down as president at the January 2006 AGM.
John Dillon
President
Irish Farmers Association
Irish Farm Centre
Bluebell
Naas Road
Dublin.
