This is a subscriber-only article
Thomas Cooney, the current IFA environment chair, has announced that he will be running for the position of IFA deputy president in the IFA elections later this year.
Cooney is the first candidate to declare for a position in the elections.
At Monday night’s Cavan county executive, county chair Elizabeth Ormiston read out an email from Cooney to the floor.
It read: “Since the recent article appeared in the Irish Farmers Journal, I have received several calls and good wishes from IFA members here in Cavan and across the country, encouraging me to put my name forward for deputy president of the association.
“I got involved in IFA to continue the good work of the Cavan county executive, to help fellow farmers in trouble with financial institutions, or delayed payments with the department and doing whatever we can to improve the lot of fellow farmers.
“With the support of Cavan IFA in 2011 I was selected to represent the county on the national environment committee, going on in 2016 to become national chair of that committee.
“Cavan IFA supported my nomination in 2011 to the national environment committee. I appreciate that support, now I am seeking a renewal of that support as in my bid to become IFA deputy president for the farmers of Cavan and farmers across Ireland.
“I thank you, the county executive for your support and want to acknowledge the support I receive from my wife Olivia and my two daughters.”
Last week The Dealer revealed that Cooney was looking at running for the position. His fellow county man Joe Brady, the current rural development chair, is “seriously considering” running for the position of president of the association, he told the meeting.
“I've been around, I’ve been county chair, Ulster - North Leinster regional chair, I have the experience,” Brady told the Irish Farmers Journal on Tuesday morning.
"I feel it's too early in the year for people to making declarations for an election at the end of the year. There's other serious issues in front of farmers at the moment - beef prices, CAP and Brexit," he said.
SHARING OPTIONS: