More than 200 people attended the second of the IFA election hustings, which took place in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway, Co Cork. Candidates for both the deputy and president positions stressed the importance of the upcoming general election and making farmers' voices heard, particularly as the three sitting TDs in west Cork are in the Government parties.
More than 200 people attended the second of the IFA election hustings, which took place in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway, Co Cork.
Candidates for both the deputy and president positions stressed the importance of the upcoming general election and making farmers' voices heard, particularly as the three sitting TDs in west Cork are in the Government parties.
What differed from the opening hustings in Tipperary on Monday night were the questions from the floor. Questions were more probing, with no candidate having an easy night.
IFA west Cork chair Richard Connell took questions in threes and this led to some answers being lost and some members repeating their question.
All three presidential candidates, Henry Burns, Joe Healy and Flor McCarthy, demonstrated strong public speaking abilities and members who are not already aligned to any particular candidate will have a difficult job selecting who they would like to see as president.
Each man also stressed the requirement for live exports to help rectify the beef price for farmers. There was concern as to whether the successful candidate will support all sectors and not their own particular interests. It certainly was not an easy ride for the candidates but all dealt well with difficult questions from a knowledgeable audience.
The deputy president candidates, Pat Farrell, Richard Kennedy and Nigel Renaghan, all showed different styles despite less intense questioning from the floor.
One onlooker commented that if IFA council meetings had contained as many forceful questions in the past as all six candidates faced tonight, an election may not have been required.
Read our blow-by-blow account of the debate in west Cork in our live blog.
11.25pm
That's a wrap for tonight. Last round of questions focussed on the political ambitions of each candidate. Each were sure-footed. Again, no major talking points from the night. That's two down, 27 to go! We'll have a report up shortly on the night. We'll see you in Ballincollig tomorrow night.
11.20
10.55pm
We're down to the last round of questions now...
10.42pm
Over two hours into it and we get our first bit of laughter. After a man from the floor throws out a long question, chairman Richard Connell said there were "six questions in that last question" which generated laughter. Interest seeping out of the night and candidates are being asked to be brief with answers. Nearly wrapping up time here.
10.38
On issues in the beef sector, Healy said it is not fair that factories are dependint on cheap beef and confusion.
Burns,reacting to some criticism from the floor on being the current livestock chariman, defending his record.
McCarthy reitterated the need for more to be done on live exports and supporting the suckler sector.
10.30pm
Chairman allowing three questions at a time is allowing for more rambling answers. One question at a time last night made the answers more pointed. We'll see what Cork central does tomorrow night. Still life from the floor here yet despite late start.
10.26pm
First question from the floor relates to the Con Lucey report and if the investigation should have been expected to take in events prior to 2009.
Flor McCarthy said all recommendations need to be implemented, "all wages must be transparent" and the IFA needs to get back to representing farmers.
Burns said that there "probably things" the Con Lucey report can't do as a former employee of the organisation. Burns said "an independent view is required" to examine the history of the IFA.
Healy assures that if he is next president and if county executives want a review that goes further then he will follow that up.
10.03pm
Flor McCarthy has tweeted a link to the video of his introductory speech. If other candidates post the same, we'll put up here.
10.02pm
The chairman invites questions from the floor.
10.00pm
That's the end of the three speakers. Burns, like last night in Tipperary, focussed on issues such as the need to protect the CAP budget and his track record as sheep chairman where he spent 13 nights in a protest outside the offices of former Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith. Key quote from Burns: "We cannot continue to surive by waiting for someone else to go broke".
9.47pm
As expected, McCarthy majored on his proximity in Kerry to west Cork. He highlighed his familarity with issues experienced in west Cork. McCarthy also said IFA need to "go back" to what it was about on the first day it was established. Final man up to speak is Henry Burns. After Henry, there will be questions from the floor.
9.36pm
9.34pm
It's on to Flor McCarthy now. It's nearly home terriorty for McCarthy here.
9.31pm
First up was Joe Healy. Healy again is calm, composed and measured. Notable quote is on the beef sector. "In beef we see every beef price except a good one." Healy also added that this is an "extraordinary election". Healy also spoke on dairy incomes and incomes as a whole.
9.17pm
Each candidate now given one minute to sum up their pitch. All candidates well received but it's on to the president candidates now.
9.16pm
Valerie will have great shots as well Mike Hoare who was in Roscrea last night. We are the only farming media who will be live from all 29 hustings!
9.12pm
Next question from the floor is on will the candidates "stand up and represent all farmers equally".
Renaghan said he "promises to support" the commodity chairmen. He said the "general secretary's job is running the organsiation, not interfering with commodity chairs".
Farrell said he will "back the relevant commodity chairmen". Farrell again pushes the role of former general secretary Pat Smith.
Kennedy said he "won't back down" from committments given and will "strive" to support all sectors.
9.06pm
Another question from the floor, this time it's on incomes.
Kennedy said farmers must look at cutting costs where money can be saved in the short tem and he states that "we need to see where costs can be controlled at co-op level".
Renaghan said, keeping it local, that the credit to west Cork farmers owning the four co-ops. He said this was achieved through unity and vision.
For Farrell, the focus in IFA must be on farm incomes and "not IFA telecom".
8.58pm
It's questions from the floor now. Each candidate is asked on what they see as the role of deputy president. Kennedy said he sees the role as being support to the president. "Be loyal but not blindly loyal".
Renaghan said he sees the role as directing the organsiation and commits to "supporting" whoever becomes president of the IFA.
Farrell, similar to the others, said he was willing to support the next president.
8.43pm
Farrell says he wants to be a reforming deputy president. He said he finds it "galling" when people who said they couldn't do anything about what happened in IFA when he put forward a motion of no confidence in former IFA general secretary Pat Smith last year which wasn't backed "by those on council". Questions from the floor to follow.
8.40pm
Nigel Renaghan said he would focus on five points as deputy president. 1. Young and part time farmers, 2. Rural crime, 3. Investment in rural Ireland, 4. An ombudsman for food producers 5. Having power as farmers. Renaghan, same as last night, also spoke about producing premimum products. Pat Farrell up last.
8.32pm
Richard Kennedy finishes up his opening address. Key quote from Richard: "We should be celebrating the march from Bantry to Dublin in 1966. Those people gave farmers a voice" which is met well. Nigel Renaghan is up next.
8.25pm
The deputy president debate first up. Each candidate, like last night, will get five minute each plus questions at the end.
Richard Kennedy from Limerick first up to speak. In the region of 200 here at the minute.
8.22pm
IFA west Cork chairman Richard Connell calls themeeting to order. It was due to start at 8pm. It's west Cork time, clearly.
8.14pm
Crowd still filtering in and bit of a buzz starting.
All candidates and their teams hard at work outside the room.
8.05pm
The crowd is slowly making its way into the room as we type. It will be another few minutes before the deputy candidates are on the stage.
First round of IFA election debates
Follow more live blogs at www.farmersjournal.ie and on the Irish Farmers Journal app in the coming days:
| Cork Central | Oriel Hotel, Ballincollig, Cork | Wed 10th Feb |
| 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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