Farmers thought it was scandalous that an organisation representing farmers could possibly pay an employee
40 times the income of the average suckler farmer who they are representing. Most farmers we spoke with wondered why the IFA could not divulge what the people in the most prominent positions in the organisation were earning. All the farmers agreed that the incomes for 2014 and 2015 should be disclosed immediately to bring more transparency to the organisation. One farmer said he would always encourage farmers to join the IFA because he thinks it is important, but feels more openness is needed.
LeviesFarmers thought it was scandalous that an organisation representing farmers could possibly pay an employee 40 times the income of the average suckler farmer who they are representing. Most farmers we spoke with wondered why the IFA could not divulge what the people in the most prominent positions in the organisation were earning. All the farmers agreed that the incomes for 2014 and 2015 should be disclosed immediately to bring more transparency to the organisation. One farmer said he would always encourage farmers to join the IFA because he thinks it is important, but feels more openness is needed.
Levies
A lot of farmers said that the IFA should put a stop to the factory levies and mart levies that are currently in place to help fund the organisation.
“How can you expect the IFA to function properly and do its job if they are effectively receiving money from the companies they are trying to negotiate with,” one farmer argued. Another farmer said he wouldn’t mind if they increased the membership fee as a result of no longer collecting levies through the factories.
Beef specifications
In Roscommon, beef specifications were a hot topic. “Factories are cutting cattle on weight and age now and you hear of people having to wait days and even weeks now to get their cattle killed. It appears as bad as this time last year but the IFA aren’t organising any protests. Nothing seems to have come out from the roundtable talks with the Department and the factories either,” said a farmer.
Reaction from Skibbereen mart
“He should be ashamed taking money off small farmers. I’m disgusted and I’m withdrawing my membership. I wonder what the rest of them are getting. If they’re getting big money from small farmers, then they have no heart,” said George Ross, Dunmanway.
“The money sounds too high given the way farming is. With prices paid to farmers going down, why is their wage so high?” asked Denis O’Sullivan, Skibbereen.
“There is an accountability issue to be answered but we need to put these in context and compare with similar positions – bankers, executives etc,” said Con Cadogan, Caheragh.
Reaction from social media
“Not nice that he had to resign but he should’ve faced the music. Farmers won’t be happy,” said Andrew Kelly.
“I can’t believe the news of the salaries being paid to the top jobs in IFA!! it’s not just him. I wonder how many struggling farmers will pay their membership next time round??” said Julie Killen McCourt.
“There are farmers in this country on their knees trying to make ends meet, how will they feel reading this. Sickened I would imagine!” Michelle Ryan commented.
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Reporting by Peter Varley, Tommy Moyles, Aisling Hussey and Odile Evans.
This is a subscriber-only article
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