Brian Nicholson, Johnstown, Co Kilkenny

Disbelief was the first thing that came to mind when I heard about the amount. Given the nature of the job it is not unfair to expect reasonable remuneration, however the package in place was considerably above this.

The whole thing was a complete and utter farce. Once the allegations were raised the IFA should have come out with the figures involved. After all the controversies in the past in other agencies it is not unreasonable to expect openness and transparency. All members are expected to contribute towards the IFA so as subscribers we have a right, I feel, to see where our money is being spent. We would have more trust in an organisation that is open and honest with all its members.

I am sure it will undermine the association but I hope it does not affect its lobbing ability for farmers into the future.

There need to be a big shake up in how things are done. I think that the wages and expenses (with receipts) of all IFA council members needs to be published, along with that of the president, treasurer and general secretary. It would also be worthwhile declaring the amount collected by factories on the association’s behalf. The whole process of setting the general secretary’s pay needs to be changed with more say from the IFA council.

Tom Dineen, Mallow, Co Cork

I am outraged with the pay packet of the general sectary of IFA. It is an obscene amount of money.

The IFA is in crisis now, there is no doubt about it and it is being handled terribly. You cannot run and hide from a crisis, not nowadays. We are in a world where social media and instant communication are the norm. If there was an upcoming street march or blockade there would be plenty of text messages flying about the place, but the silence on this occasion is deafening. All IFA members need answers and so do the general public. The IFA motto is “Unity, strength, delivery”. Unless IFA deliver openness and transparency and deliver it right now, then I fear their strength will be weakened dramatically and the unity will be lost for some time.

Hardworking members are going to feel very disgruntled. At a time when commodity prices are falling and all farmers – especially dairy farmers – are feeling the pinch, to see one man walking away with half a million per year is infuriating. I know myself that cost-cutting is top of my agenda on the farm with the Glanbia base price down at 24 cent. A quick phone call is all it would take to cancel my IFA membership and levies. I could save a couple of hundred euro. It’s very tempting.

Crisis management time now needs to be got right. Lay all the cards on the table, be straight and honest and open with everyone. Who knew of the pay agreement of the secretary general and who sanctioned it? Is there anyone else in the IFA on ridiculous money?

The IFA are a unique organisation and there is plenty of talented, credible and hardworking people among its ranks.

If the IFA executive have nothing to hide, then do not hide anything.

Ciarán Lenehan, Skryne, Co Meath

From a beef producer's point of view, the sum is outrageous. We're in an industry where a market loss is the reality for the average farm.

A salary reflects an individual's worth and value to their employers – in this case the Irish farmer. It is undeniable that the role of the IFA is difficult and unenviable – their passion and drive is unquestionable.

Yet, significant results from their efforts have been scarce in recent times. Such a sum of money is a million miles from justifiable. Questions will arise in the coming days and weeks and answers need to be provided.

Full transparency is a must.

Ronan Delany, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath

The level of money being paid was outrageous and totally wrong on any level.

The situation is being handled badly. I feel the organisation is falling apart, with in-fighting and grudges from people who feel they missed out on positions and want to get themselves into the top role.

I don't blame current leaders. Former general secretary Michael Berkery started the big salary packages and others followed. Not one of the people shouting from the rooftops would turn down the wages if they were in the role(s).

Lots of people are now trying to make a scapegoat out of Pat Smith and IFA president Eddie Downey, but where were they over the last 20 years to call a stop to this?

Internally, it will take a while to heal these wounds and I am expecting splits in branches and committees between the pro- and the anti-Downeys.

Externally, it will be all forgotten about as soon as some other news headline comes along.

We stopped paying the IFA levies here years ago.

All wages and financial packages should be published immediately, because this is members’ money being spent here.

Brian Rushe, Carbury, Co Kildare

I’m a member of the IFA and will continue to be a member. I will not throw the baby out with the bath water. The association is doing an important job around the country.

But I’m shocked that this was viewed as an appropriate level of pay. That remuneration package was negotiated by a body representing farmers of which 50% have to rely on off-farm income. The amount was over €500,000 for 2013, a year when the spring was among the worst for farmers. We had to import hay from France at that time.

This is no reflection on the man himself: Pat Smith was a good operator.

I hope this will promote change in the association. Getting the IFA closer to its grassroots would be a positive outcome of this.

I would be concerned that the unpaid volunteers who give their time at the local level become tarnished with the same brush.

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Harold Kingston's Farmer Writes column: We cannot call for transparency without showing it ourselves