IFA presidential candidate Tim Cullinan has launched an extraordinary attack on fellow candidate Angus Woods.
Describing IFA livestock chair Woods’ performance as a “display of arrogance and self-satisfaction”, Cullinan linked the development of the breakaway Beef Plan Movement to what he described as Woods “dereliction of duty” during the 2018 summer drought.
“Speaking plainly, Angus Woods cannot deny or escape from his responsibility in the proliferation of breakaway groups after drystock and beef farmers felt they were not being taken seriously by the IFA,” said Cullinan.
Angus Woods is completely out of touch with reality if he thinks a price of €3.50/kg for steers and €3.55/kg for heifers is a viable price
“Angus Woods is living in his own bubble if he thinks he has delivered for livestock farmers over the past two years.”
He said drystock and beef farmers see Angus Woods as weak, a poor negotiator, all talk, no action, and devoid of ideas.
“Out of touch”
“Angus Woods is completely out of touch with reality if he thinks a price of €3.50/kg for steers and €3.55/kg for heifers is a viable price,” said Cullinan.
“Even in the chaotic negotiations in the recent beef talks, incredibly, the IFA livestock chairman was on the same side as the beef factories, defending the 30-month age limit when respected figures in the industry like Professor Paddy Wall, Pat McDonagh of Supermacs, and Lidl said there was no valid basis for the penalty that cost farmers over €10m in 2018.”
With the IFA presidential hustings moving to the west of Ireland, where beef farming is the dominant sector, these comments are likely to raise the temperature between Cullinan, Woods and indeed John Coughlan.
Beef on the menu at Kilkenny IFA hustings