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Recently, I heard my son-in-law David say (with a wide grin) that “Granny doesn’t hold back as much as she used to!” That got me thinking.
As I navigated cancer treatment, I was probably a bit tetchy and impatient. I don’t like conflict. It zaps my energy and causes unnecessary upset. I prefer a healthy debate that leads to a consensus. David’s comment made sure that I made a better effort – I know he didn’t mean it as a criticism – and we had a good laugh about it. He qualified his statement by saying, “It’s good to have you back!”
I am back! As I emerge from underneath the clouds of treatment and surgery, I’m discovering all the things that passed me by. I’m playing catch up and enjoying it. It is important to hold views, to have principles and to express them.
I missed this year’s Ploughing Championships and the traditional presence of the IFA candidates in an election year. I always take my vote seriously and so I was determined to attend the local hustings, especially as I don’t really know any of the contenders for president or deputy president.
Our venue choice was Macroom or Fermoy. Over the years, I’ve attended a fair few. Tim and I decided on Fermoy. There was a good crowd and I was very touched by the amount of people who wished me well and were genuinely happy to see me out and about. Many were men and women that are of my own vintage and we’d have sat in the same room at IFA meetings on multiple occasions and hustings through the years.
It was really nice. I am back!
Presentations
Pat O’Keeffe, North Cork chairman, presided. He did a master job. I was close enough to hear him repeating questions and prompting the candidates as he kept all of them on track. The four candidates made their presentations. They were all good, which makes an informed decision difficult.
In this scenario, I will also be influenced by IFA members in whose judgement I trust. As I move away from the presentations and consider them, candidates had different strengths. The individual members has to consider who has the best leadership qualities, the most experienced negotiating skills, the ability to communicate, the passion to fight for all farming families and the stamina to carry it all off with aplomb. At the end of the day, I have to consider who will best represent our farming business over the next four years.
Separate policies
It was clear that Pat O’Keeffe wanted engagement to take place between the audience and the candidates. He begged the audience for questions. There were a few. I wondered: what has happened to the members of IFA? Many of the usually vocal men and women kept shtum. Maybe they had their minds made up already – or is this another legacy of the COVID-19 lockdowns?
I remember times when the chairman would have to cut off speakers and leave questions unanswered.
Where you have candidates, you have politics. Sometimes, it gets disingenuous and there were certainly undercurrents going on. This annoys me, because it skews the message and the focus is on other scores to settle rather than who will make the best president or deputy president of IFA.
IFA is hugely important to farmers. We need it to be strong. It is really important, too, that young farmers are encouraged to participate. They are the future.
Ordinary members
It was obvious that ordinary members are worried about how communication is handled by IFA, both to the membership and the public. The issue came in questions and was also addressed in the candidates’ presentations.
There is no doubt that with the challenges that are facing all sectors of farming – from mitigating climate change to our ability to make a profit from our farming businesses – excellent and effective communication is essential. Communication within the organisation is a job of work to be done. Any of the candidates can take that on board. Communication with the public ensuring that we have a licence to farm is a priority for the next leaders of IFA. It is key to us continuing to grow as an organisation and in our farming careers.
Food production must continue to be a profitable business for future generations. It is important that we vote. It is a postal vote so don’t let it be forgotten in any kitchen!
kkoleary@gmail.com
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