DEAR EDITOR
The editorial comment in your issue of 7 March provides a good framework for the upcoming review of recent events in relation to Bord Bia.
It should not be too difficult for the reviewers to fill in the main body of at least a substantial interim report within Minister Heydon’s proposed timeline of 30 April.
Last week’s humorous Irish Farmers Journal cartoon was obviously set in the context of recent political alignments on the Bord Bia issue.
It could be misread as a departure from the non-party political provision which the founders of NFA and IFA so wisely included in the association’s rules and constitution.
As regards the private political preferences of the great majority of the farming community, including IFA members, this is more clearly signposted by the political career paths of past IFA presidents, after completing their IFA term of office:
TJ Maher – Independent MEP.Paddy Lane – Fianna Fáil MEP.Alan Gillis – Fine Gael MEP.Tom Parlon – Progressive Democrats TD and Minister of State.Former NFA/IFA council members who subsequently graced the upper or lower Houses of the Oireachtas included Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Callanan, Fine Gael Senator Michael Howard and TDs Billy Fox and Seymour Crawford. Billy Fox had moved to Seanad Éireann at the time of his assassination by an IRA murder gang in March 1974.
In terms of political strategy, the odds were foreseeable on any Government concession to a proposition which was defeated as an opposition motion on the floor of Dáil Éireann.
On a positive note, the Bord Bia review can now focus on the details of the quality assurance programmes, which could have been addressed earlier through the Technical Advisory Committees, on which the farming organisations are directly represented.
DEAR EDITOR
The editorial comment in your issue of 7 March provides a good framework for the upcoming review of recent events in relation to Bord Bia.
It should not be too difficult for the reviewers to fill in the main body of at least a substantial interim report within Minister Heydon’s proposed timeline of 30 April.
Last week’s humorous Irish Farmers Journal cartoon was obviously set in the context of recent political alignments on the Bord Bia issue.
It could be misread as a departure from the non-party political provision which the founders of NFA and IFA so wisely included in the association’s rules and constitution.
As regards the private political preferences of the great majority of the farming community, including IFA members, this is more clearly signposted by the political career paths of past IFA presidents, after completing their IFA term of office:
TJ Maher – Independent MEP.Paddy Lane – Fianna Fáil MEP.Alan Gillis – Fine Gael MEP.Tom Parlon – Progressive Democrats TD and Minister of State.Former NFA/IFA council members who subsequently graced the upper or lower Houses of the Oireachtas included Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Callanan, Fine Gael Senator Michael Howard and TDs Billy Fox and Seymour Crawford. Billy Fox had moved to Seanad Éireann at the time of his assassination by an IRA murder gang in March 1974.
In terms of political strategy, the odds were foreseeable on any Government concession to a proposition which was defeated as an opposition motion on the floor of Dáil Éireann.
On a positive note, the Bord Bia review can now focus on the details of the quality assurance programmes, which could have been addressed earlier through the Technical Advisory Committees, on which the farming organisations are directly represented.
SHARING OPTIONS