Commodity issues were the order of the night at the Cork central IFA election debate, with concerns on greenhouse gas issues, organisation structure and Brexit also getting an airing. Short of 300 people attended the third of the IFA hustings, which took place in the Oriel House hotel, Ballincollig. Cork central chairman Jimmy Hosford ran a tight ship in terms of time once – the event got started. Like the previous night in Dunmanway, the 8 o’clock start time proved a struggle for many at this busy time of year.
Commodity issues were the order of the night at the Cork central IFA election debate, with concerns on greenhouse gas issues, organisation structure and Brexit also getting an airing.
Short of 300 people attended the third of the IFA hustings, which took place in the Oriel House hotel, Ballincollig. Cork central chairman Jimmy Hosford ran a tight ship in terms of time once – the event got started. Like the previous night in Dunmanway, the 8 o’clock start time proved a struggle for many at this busy time of year.
All three presidential candidates gave solid performances for the third night in a row. Voters with no affiliation to any candidate will have a difficult time working out their preferences.
Grain farmers disgruntled at feeling they had been ignored were vocal on the night. Former national grain and beet chairman Jim O’Regan said: “We're producing a high quality raw material for the distilling industry, grain is not just a commodity product and we must be rewarded for it.”
In the deputy president campaign, the third night running of speech delivering showed, with candidates who had poorer performances in Dunmanway improving and vice versa.
They also fielded some of the tougher questions on their views on what can be an understated role. All six candidates will be in the market for honey and lemon if the passionate approach to speeches continues.
Catch up with Wednesday night's debate in our archived live blog below.
11.12pm
Flor McCarthy cleverly tells the Cork crowd that he would be passing through all the time between Kerry and Dublin, so would be available to listen to them every day.
Joe Healy has the last word.
11.08pm
The final one-minute sum-up by each candidate has clearly grown in importance. Only Burns stood up to deliver it and give it some energy on Monday. All candidates concluded on their feet on Tuesday. Tonight they are again standing up and all sounding equally passionate in their final words. Honey and lemon are going to feature highly on the shopping lists in their respective households!
11.04pm
Jimmy Hosford is keen to send people home at a respectable time and asks the candidates to give their concluding statements.
11.01pm
The candidates are asked what they will do to encourage young people to join the organisation.
Flor McCarthy says: "We need to make them feel like they can make a difference."
Joe Healy says it is unfortunate that many fall out of farming organisations between Macra and the IFA. "Young farmers want delivery and the IFA as a proactive organisation," he says.
Henry Burns says that the IFA needs to get more young people involved at county level.
10.56pm
The debate is going over time and tiredness is being felt. Debate chair Jimmy Hosford is asking for brief questions and answers, but they are now outnumbered by statements of opinion from various sides.
10.53pm
The next question is on returning national commodity chairs onto the executive committee, as was the case before the Dowling report.
Healy suggests the Dowling report was "a bad day for the organisation". But he says it was good before and will be good again.
Burns has already recommended such a role for the commodity chairs and he agrees again. This "allows for coherent policies," he says.
McCarthy says this can only be a positive move, as recommended by Con Lucey.
10.48pm
The candidates are asked for their views on Brexit.
Joe Healy says the UK is our most important market and the uncertainty and volatility of seeing it leave the EU would not be good for Irish farmers.
Henry Burns says this would have "serious consequences for Ireland".
Flor McCarthy describes this as a "massive issue we have to keep an eye on".
10.40pm
McCarthy calls for transparency: "It's farmers money that funds the IFA so they are entitled to know where it's coming from and where it is spent." He wants to take full look at the Con Lucey report and says that annual reviews of the whole organisation would be a minimum.
10.36pm
Burns says members must see who is being paid what. "Respect will have to be earned back and that won't be easy," he says. He adds that if the committee system is used right, it is an effective way of giving grassroots members a role.
10.34pm
A member of the audience says: "This is the biggest crisis the IFA has encountered, trust is broken between membership and the hierarchy. What does each candidate consider to be the most important thing to do to restore broken trust?"
10.29pm
Joe Healy says that "rebuilding the organisation like we have to is going to cost money". He warns that if the beef levies stop, dairy and mart levies are likely to follow. "We will need to fund the organisation and alternatives from members are welcome," he says. His suggestions include increasing membership fee and tapping the industry for funding.
10.27pm
Flor McCarthy says membership is one potential source, but it will have to be scaled, with "bigger farmers paying more and smaller ones paying less". "We can't forget smaller farmers," he says, adding that there is no simple way of getting €4.7m.
10.25pm
The candidates are asked about their proposals for the future funding of the IFA.
Henry Burns says the meat factory levies have been brought up rightly or wrongly as a funding channel that compromises the organisation. "I don't have a concrete proposal bar increasing membership fees," he says, because we can't continue to say that levies are bad and do nothing about it. "I commit to a review within 12 months, using membership's ideas," he says.
9.53pm
Joe Healy is the final speaker up before floor will be opened for question. This is the third night of speeches for the candidates - they and their campaign teams will almost all know them off by heart by the end of the county hustings.
9.44pm
Henry Burns is now giving his opening speech, Joe Healy will be last to start tonight.
9.42pm
Extra seats are brought in as the crowd increases in size - around 300 people now.
9.39pm
Introductory statements are very similar to those of the previous days. Catch up with our coverage of the first two hustings:
Strong questioning at IFA west Cork debate
Little Racket in the Racket Hall as IFA hustings begin
9.36pm
First up is Flor McCarthy - the only one of the six candidates to change tie colour from last night! Blue to red for anyone interested in the fashion stakes.
9.35pm
No messing from debate chair Jimmy Hosford, who launches straight into presidential candidates' speeches.
9.33pm
Deputy presidential candidates are now wrapping up with their concluding statements.
9.31pm
The next question is about the widely held view that the only answer to low farm incomes is to scale up. What do the candidates think?
Renaghan says we are running faster and going nowhere. Margins in efficiency drives him mad, especially when he hears that 10% do well. "What about the other 90%?"
Farrell says increasing scale is fine as long as the farmer gets rewarded. "It is no use if the farmer doesn't get a share of the extra cake."
Kennedy doesn't agree with expansionist views. "It's all about price, not scale," he says. "There is no point racing to chase your tail."
9.23pm
How do we break the stranglehold of the supermarkets?
A member of the audience asks the candidates: "How do we break the stranglehold of the supermarkets?"
Nigel Renaghan is in favour of an ombudsman for food producers.
Pat Farrell says there is not enough in what the minister has brought in recently.
Richard Kennedy says government support is required and farmers on their own can't the get the margin that is essential for suppliers.
9.11pm
There are around 250 people present, a similar crowd to last night in west Cork.
9.05pm
The next question is on salary size. Jimmy Hosford clears up that candidates won't be on the committee that makes salary decisions.
Farrell is open to new ideas on funding, whether through levies or increased membership, from the branches.
Kennedy says transparency is required on salaries and he is not seeking one himself. Yet he believes the first impression of the president and the deputy's farms is important. They need to have their business looked after.
Renaghan says he wants to drive incomes for farmers so that they get a fairer share. Personnally, he is happy with the current expenses he receives as national poultry chairman: phone, mileage and compensation of up to €100 if he's away for a day.
9.00pm
Candidates are quizzed on the existence of a report by the human resources consultancy Tower Watson and the deputy president's presence on boards outside the IFA.
Nigel Renaghan says he has not seen such a report. On the issue of board memberships, he says he is the only board member of Bord Bia who is not paid - this is a ministerial appointment. He adds that as deputy president he would sit on the Teagasc board and push for change from the "current state where 40 million goes on pensions".
Pat Farrell claims there is no Tower Watson report, adding this was something put together by the previous general secretary. He says that anyone on the board of Bord Bia should transfer any money earned to the IFA.
8.54pm
Asked about the role of the deputy president, Richard Kennedy says he is there to support the president and be present when important decisions are made.
Nigel Renaghan says although this is a supporting role, he "wouldn't be afraid to stand up if required.
Pat Farrell says the role is to support the president and committee chairs.
8.48pm
Kildare chairman Pat Farrell finished his introduction, followed by the third deputy presidential candidate, Limerick man Richard Kennedy. Farrell presents himself as one of the whistleblower who exposed the recent pay scandal at the top of the IFA with motions of no confidence, while Kennedy says he comes from outside the top table and is best placed to conduct deep reform.
8.46pm
Cork central runs from Duhallow in the north west of the county to Youghal in the east and borders west Cork IFA with the Barryroe branch on the coast. Dairy, livestock and tillage would be seen as the predominant sectors in the region, with land type varying greatly.
8.41pm
Renaghan has so far presented himself as the candidate capable of taking on the dominance of retailers and processors in the food chain and delivering better margins for farmers.
8.39pm
Cork central IFA chair Jimmy Hosford is chairing procedings this evening. Nigel Reneghan has just finished his introduction as candidate for deputy president, Pat Farrell is next.
8.37pm
8.31pm
8.13pm
In the meantime, you will find voices and analysis from the first IFA election hustings in our podcast below.
8pm
We will cover the Cork Central husting here shortly. Please be patient while the candidates get ready and our reporter reaches the venue after a surprise calving at home!
First round of IFA election debates
Follow more live blogs at www.farmersjournal.ie and on the Farmers Journal app in the coming days:
| Waterford | Lawlors Hotel, Dungarvan | Thurs 11th Feb |
| North Cork | GAA Complex, Mallow | Mon 15th Feb |
| Kerry | Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee | Tues 16th Feb |
| Limerick | Woodlands Hotel, Adare | Wed 17th Feb |
| Clare | Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis | Thurs 18th Feb |
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