Teagasc boss steps down

By Pat O'Keeffe

The current Director of Administration, Tom Kirley, will take over as acting Director. However, it is understood that Teagasc Authority members are keen to canvass widely for a new Director with an appointment expected early in the new year. Privately, a number of Authority members believe the organisation would benefit from the appointment of an outsider.

A statement issued yesterday by Teagasc stated: "The Teagasc Authority, at its meeting today, 6 September 2006, has accepted the decision of its Director Jim Flanagan to retire on reaching eligibility for full pension on 21 September 2006. Mr Flanagan has accepted a contract to provide services as Corporate Strategist to Teagasc on a part-time basis up to the end of 2009.''

In late 2005, the Teagasc Director attracted major controversy when farmers' perceived that he did not do enough to ensure that a reasonable and fair Nitrates Directive was signed into law. When the law was eventually signed, the Irish Farmers Association took the unprecedented step of withdrawing their support for Teagasc. Five hundred farmers protested outside a Teagasc Authority meeting in Mount Juliet last January. The IFA's representative on the board, Ruaidhri Deasy, put forward a motion of no confidence in Jim Flanagan, which was seconded by ICMSA's nominee to the Authority, Joe Fitzgerald. The motion was later withdrawn by the proposer "to allow further discussions to take place''. Some may regard yesterday's announcement as being the culmination of this process.

The IFA and Macra also withdrew from the Partnership Talks over the Nitrates issue and it was ultimately re-drafted after the Teagasc Authority said that they wished to offer new scientific information.

Jim Flanagan joined Teagasc from the Department of Agriculture in early 2002 where he had been chief inspector. He successfully put through a rationalisation plan that saw the closure and sale of the Sandymount avenue headquarters and the closure of a number of offices.

He also put through a reduction in staff numbers through the non-appointment of two out of three retiring employees.

The new role for Jim Flanagan will see him involved in ensuring that Teagasc fully participates in delivering the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation recently published by the Government.

Meanwhile, the key role for his successor will be to restore farmer confidence in the organisation.

A recent Farmers Journal survey found that a high proportion of farmers, particularly dairy and tillage operators, blame Teagasc for the Nitrates debacle.

In yesterday's statement, the chairman of the Teagasc Authority, Dr Tom O'Dwyer thanked Jim Flanagan for his commitment and dedication to Teagasc and said he looked forward to working with him in this new and challenging role, where he will continue to make a significant contribution to Teagasc in the future.

Dr O'Dwyer said, "A process to identify a new director will begin immediately and it is hoped an appointment can be made early in the new year.

"Tom Kirley will work with the senior management team, to ensure that Teagasc continues to implement its ambitious new research plans and its programmes for the advisory and training directorates.'''

The Teagasc Authority also approved the appointment of Tom Collins as the new director of Corporate and Management Services.

Mr Collins is currently assistant director of Advisory Services in Teagasc.