Whispers that the ICBF agreed pay rises for senior staff last week are untrue, chair Michael Doran told The Dealer.

“No. In fact, because of the funding position we find ourselves in, the chief executive’s pay will remain unchanged. The board signed off the package for 2015 last week.”

The chief executive is Sean Coughlan. The issue attracted attention because the ICBF is at risk of a drop in funding if farmers opt out of paying the 38c ICBF contribution when buying cattle tags for 2017.

Wexford man Doran declined to reveal his remuneration. However, he was happy to reveal the pay for his own role. He gets an honorarium of €15,000 per anum plus vouched allowances for days away from the farm.

“I’m still out of pocket. I’m not doing this for the money.”

Pay in the ICBF passes by the beady eye of the Department of Agriculture. Company secretary to ICBF is Department official John Carty and he also sits on the ICBF remuneration committee.