Further turmoil as IFA Galway passes motion of no confidence in board

Approximately 150 people turned up at a meeting in Athenry last night to discuss the findings of the Con Lucey report. According to county chair Pat Murphy, all were fairly angry in the wake of Lucey's report, particularly in relation to the fact that the executive board was not removed.

As a result, a motion was passed for the board to step down right away and offer themselves for re-election.

Murphy says the meeting, which began at 8.30pm and continued for approximately four hours, was "robust", with a range of views expressed on Lucey's report.

Most of the anger expressed by members was in relation to the pay received by former presidents of the IFA and the exorbitant pay of former general secretary Pat Smith.

There was also anger that the issues raised in Con Lucey's resignation letters in 2014 were not acted upon.

One more significant motion passed on the night was that there should be no door-to-door canvassing in the upcoming election. "There would hardly be time for it now and there was a feeling expressed last night that door-to-door canvassing is not what people want," Murphy said.

Another motion was that anyone going for president should temporarily step aside from other posts while in the running. This motion would affect deputy president Tim O'Leary who is currently one of three declared candidates running for presidency.

All of these motions will be brought forward to the next executive council meeting on 5 January 2016.

Meanwhile, former IFA county chairman for Galway Michael Silke has pulled out of the presidential race due to "disillusionment" with the organisation.

Silke signalled his intention to run for IFA president on Wednesday afternoon, one day after the publication of Con Lucey's report into the governance and remuneration structures of the organisation.

Two days later, on Friday 18 December, Silke confirmed that he is no longer in the running, having decided that the IFA is no longer an organisation that supports its grassroot members.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Silke said in the aftermath of the Con Lucey report it became clear to him that the country's most powerful lobbying organisation is in serious "melt-down territory" and that its structures need to be changed straight away.

"I entered the race on the understanding that the IFA would change its structures and act with a sense of urgency to support grassroots members in the wake of the report," he said.

"However, it is clear to me now that no such changes are being made. For example, I understand that door-to-door canvassing will still be taking place. If the IFA was serious about getting a president elected soon, a president who could lead and support grassroots members, they should consider holding four regional meetings where all the candidates answer questions from the floor and thereby speed up the election process.

"I don't think the top branch of the IFA is acting urgently on Lucey's report and I think the east-west divide in the organisation will continue."

As it stands, there are three declared candidates for the IFA presidential election - Tim O’Leary, Flor McCarthy and Henry Burns. Nominations for the position of president close on 6 January 2016 at 5.30pm.

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Full coverage: Con Lucey report