Should other farm organisations decide to back the beef plan set out by the Beef Plan movement, it will be on a no strings attached basis, Eamon Corley, one of the founding members of the new group has said.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Corley said: “The plan belongs to the Beef Plan movement. It is our group that will be implementing it.”

On Tuesday, representatives from the movement met with the IFA national livestock committee in Dublin where the 86-point beef plan set out by the movement was discussed.

The IFA said the committee concluded that most of the livestock aspects of the beef plan are broadly in line with IFA livestock policy, which is focused on improving the low-income situation of livestock farmers. It did not say whether it would back the plan.

However, Corley said the outcome of that meeting from the group’s point of view, was that the IFA was no closer to backing the plan than it was a number of months ago.

Resignation

Corley the Meath IFA livestock representative failed to attend the meeting and told the Irish Farmers Journal that he has resigned from that position.

“It was my own decision and there are a lot of good people in the IFA,” Corley said.

Independence

When asked if the group was aligned to any other farm organisations, Corley said it is independent, stating: “We have our own chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer and public relations person.”

Corley also said that the movement has a chair in each province along with representatives for each county.

Commenting on the €10 registration fee for the group, Corley said that a small amount has been received so far.

When asked if the group would look for business or charity status, he said at the moment it is a non-profit voluntary group.