‘We have to move to a place where farmers don’t dread the inspector’

“I accept that I’m seen as the outsider in the race so far, but I’m convinced I will win. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”

Flor McCarthy is something of a paradox. Often considered to be a farmer with more ambition than land, McCarthy has the land to back up his definite passion to be the 15th president of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

McCarthy started farming in 1983 with very modest holdings and has grown them ever since. He describes the securing of a long-term lease on the outskirts of Co Cork in the early 2000s as his “first big break”. The farm is 70km from his home base. McCarthy, along with his wife Mary, had another farm in Co Limerick but they no longer farm that.

He has since grown the farm to approximately 400ha, the majority of which is made up of mountain land in the gap of Dunloe. However, he says that he still retains the mindset of being a smaller farmer.

“It keeps you grounded. I was very proud to start off on 25 acres of very poor ground and through long-term leasing I managed to develop it into the farm I have today. The farm is the only source of income for me and my wife Mary and our children,” McCarthy said.

The pay of former IFA presidents as well as the pay and severance package of former IFA general secretary Pat Smith has thrust the association into a period of turmoil.

Anger

Farmers’ anger has been palpable and there is anecdotal evidence of IFA subscriptions being cancelled and levies being stopped. Overall, a sense of mistrust still hangs over the association and McCarthy said he hopes to “unify” it once again.

“There are massive issues with the organisation. The issue with the [former] general secretary has affected the whole organisation. It actually frightens me the impact it has had on our organisation. We have to get back to what we are good at – representing farmers. Making sure that farmers’ incomes are protected. There is now an opportunity to shape or remould the organisation to ensure that we are representing the needs of all farmers.”

What does McCarthy see as being the role of IFA president?

“I’m quite clear on that. As president I would ensure that farmers’ viewpoints are brought to the highest table in either Ireland or Europe. You have to be driven about your farm. I’m driven about improving my own farm, I’m driven to be the next president of the IFA, to help farmers improve their farm. I believe I can make a difference,” he said.

McCarthy also said that he does not see being in the IFA as a “career” and if he does not get elected, he is happy to return to work full-time on the farm with his wife Mary.

While McCarthy is now critical of the role of Smith when he was general secretary of IFA, why did he not raise issues before Derek Deane went public in November of 2015?

“I was the only national officer within [the executive] council who abstained on both votes in January and November 2015. I had issues with the former general secretary. We were never provided with enough information to make a decision.

“I had no inkling on the pay. I did have issues with his performance, but that wasn’t enough to vote against the general secretary,” McCarthy said before adding that he did not agree with how Derek Deane brought the IFA into the spotlight.

With regard to his own pay if he becomes president, and the pay of the next general secretary, McCarthy wants a new committee to be established to set the pay and conditions.

“I believe that no man should set his own pay,” McCarthy said. “I would never attempt to set my own pay. The wage has to be set totally independently by four members of the executive council plus some outside advisers. If elected, it will be these people who set the pay of the president and the general secretary. Whatever figure they arrive at, I’ll accept and be happy with,” he explained.

On the issue of levies, McCarthy said he is keen on an independent review of levies in the IFA but said if they are to stop then the association must find €3m to €4m to make up that shortfall in funding.

McCarthy is the likely outsider in the race. He trails behind the bigger names of Henry Burns and Joe Healy. The entrance of Healy into the race could dilute his support on the western seaboard, where he has traditionally been strong. However, McCarthy said he has a strong footing in Munster to build from. “My real stronghold is Munster; most of my nominations came from Munster,” he said.

The counties that backed McCarthy’s nomination were Kerry, Clare, south Tipperary, Waterford, Meath and Louth.

“I have the biggest spread of nominations,” he said.

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Rural development

McCarthy is the current outgoing chair of IFA’s rural development committee. As chair, he helped secure 46% co-financing by the Irish Government in the Rural Development Programme (RDP). The RDP funds schemes such as GLAS, TAMS, ANC and BDGP.

It is his work as rural development chair which McCarthy believes will help broaden his electoral appeal.

“TAMS will flow to dairy farmers in Munster as well as into beef, sheep, pigs and poultry farmers everywhere. I helped secure funding for farmers in every sector. The RDP will support farmers in one way or another in every county in Ireland so I’m hopeful farmers will know that,” McCarthy said. HE also wants a €20/ewe payment.

A criticism often levelled at McCarthy is that he is solely focused on the suckler and sheep sectors and has paid little or no attention to other sectors. Should dairy and tillage farmers be nervous about putting the tick beside McCarthy on the ballot paper?

“As Kerry county chairman from 2000 to 2004 I represented dairy farmers, tillage farmers, pig farmers as well as suckler and drystock farmers. While rural development chairman, I helped secure funding for all farming sectors. I have shown support to all sectors and I will continue to do so,” he said.

Eligibility and inspections are major issues for McCarthy.

“We have to move to a place where farmers don’t dread the inspector. The Department of Agriculture inspector on your farm must be your friend, your adviser,” McCarthy said, adding that he sees “pre-inspected” application forms as key to reducing on-farm inspections.

“If you penalise a farmer you are automatically saying that he doesn’t have the ability to right a wrong. We cannot allow that to happen and I will work night and day to make sure that isn’t the case,” he concluded.

Facts

Flor McCarthy

Age: 53

Home farm: Killowen, Kenmare, Co Kerry.

Farms: 400ha of owned, leased and rented land. Mountain and lowland.

System: 56 pedigree suckler cows, 100 other owned stock, 400 scotch ewes, 130 ewe lambs and five rams.

Current: Outgoing IFA rural development committee chair.

Past: Kerry IFA chair 2002 to 2006

Family: Married to Mary with four children – Philomena (19), Flor Jr (17), John (12) and Gerard (10).

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