"It's as much an endurance race as an election".
These were the words of IFA Cork north chairman Billy Cotter at the IFA hustings on Monday night.
The election hustings entered its second week and another week in Munster. Just over 250 people showed up for the third and final Cork IFA election hustings which took place in the GAA complex in Mallow. Cotter controlled proceedings very well in a competitive and lively debate. Presidential candidates Henry Bruns, Joe Healy and Flor McCarthy were again before a Cork crowd to put forward their case for election.
This was, by some distance, the most entertaining of the Cork hustings with some candidates using the weekend break to rework their speeches on what they learned from the first week on the circuit.
Like the previous nights, the 8pm start time, combined with peak calving season, led to a slow build up of numbers with the room buzzing by the time the presidential candidates came to make their speeches. It will be interesting to see if this pace will continue. Questions varied with transparency within the organisation, dairy prices and the grain sector being the three main topics for the presidential candidates.
Deputy race
Yet again the deputy president candidates, Pat Farrell, Richard Kennedy and Nigel Renaghan, fielded some of the tougher question, some in particular on the IFAs views on the roles of pre-nups. The IFA election road show moves on to Tralee tomorrow night where only the deputy presidents will be speaking and facing questions from Kerry farmers as Flor McCarthy is a kerry native. There will be no presidential debate in any of the candidates' home counties.
Not as hostile as Waterford last Thursday but still a testing night for all six candidates.
Five down, 24 to go.
Full coverage: IFA elections 2016
Below is our live blog from the Cork north hustings.
11.02pm
That's a wrap for tonight. Really interesting and lively debate from Cork north. Report to follow shortly.
10.56pm
Billy Cotter is a strict time-keeper. He has ensured that proceedings have been controlled with a very lively and competitive debate. Candidates are now summing up.
10.55pm
Plenty of bite here tonight. Without doubt the sharpest of the three Cork hustings. Even the audience is being kept on its toes.
10.53pm
The chairman is looking for snappier answers from the candidates now.
After all that has happened, does the IFA need a face lift and a name change?
Joe Healy said a name change is up to the members. Healy said it is not a priority for members at the minute.
Flor McCarthy said the IFA brand is not damaged once a new president and his team is in place to sort out the issues. "There was never a greater challenge at the moment," McCarthy said before adding that there is a "huge decision ahead for members to make". This is met with applause from the floor.
Burns said there is "no way" the name should change saying the IFA name is "too valuable". He said that should not change because of a "tiny percentage of people moving the organisation in the wrong direction". Applause again here.
10.45pm
What will the candidates do to ensure that tillage farmers receive a fair price and with regard to TAMS?
Joe Healy is up first. He said prices are not sustainable and producers have felt left out. With regard to TAMS, Healy said it is "unfortunate" that tillage farmers are not included in a package with 250 measures. He said there is huge potential to improve the sector given the distilling success.
Flor McCarthy said some sectors submitted no proposals when the IFA looked for submissions. He said that the list which was included for tillage farmers "may not have been enough". He added that the challenge is to give more power to committees to feel like members have a say.
Burns, a tillage farmer, said there must be equality throughout the sectors. He said that Irish tillage farmers "never had a better quality grain" but it is still below the imported price. He said that Irish product must be used in distilling adding that there is a huge market for Irish whiskey.
10.30pm
We're the heart of the dairy south so milk price volatility is brought up.
Henry Burns said that first of all, the IFA dairy committee have a proposal, secondly, it is based fixed milk price schemes and thirdly, co-ops need to support milk price. He adds that the EU Commission has to be pushed into a viable intervention price.
Joe Healy, the only dairy farmer in the race, said intervention price has to be increased. He talks about the possibility of Russian sanctions being lifted in July. He said that fixed milk price schemes have place. However, cost of finance on farms is too high and that Irish farmers should not be paying 2% higher than the rest of Europe.
Flor McCarthy said processor executives need to get a better return from high quality products in order to deliver higher returns for farmers.
10.21pm
Shock of shock. There might be an outsider in the room. Billy Cotter asks that only members of the Cork north IFA executive to ask questions tonight. A smell a witch hunt.
10.18pm
We are on to IFA internal politics, surprised it took this long.
Did the hierarchy insult the intelligence by drip feeding members information on how much candidates are funded for this campaign. The candidates are also asked if they will go into politics after the end of their presidency and should their be a moratorium on getting into politics.
On candidates funding. Each candidate gets fuel allowance and up to 70 days labour replacement. The full figures will be known after the election.
10.10pm
We're on to questions about quality assurance for O grade cattle. Is there a future for heavy bulls?
Henry Burns takes this one first. Burns said that there is confusion over the quality assurance payment. Burns said the IFA wants a flate rate for 6c once an animal was from a quality assured (QA) farm. Burns adds that Ireland has the lowest weights in the EU.
Joe Healy is next and he said that cattle from QA farms should get QA payment. Continental cattle only "come into their own" at 450kg. Healy takes a swipe at Burns saying that the beef forum has not delivered for farmers before adding that there is not enough competition and that the base price is below the cost of production.
Flor McCarthy said the QA scheme needs to be fully reviewed and that our beed farmers are producingto the highest standard. He adds that standards are grand once farmers get rewarded for it.
9.57pm
First question is a largely a Cork issue, the hen harrier and designated lands.
Flor McCarthy said he is "very aware" of the effects of designated land from his own personal farming system and goes through financial issues.
Henry Burns said IFA hasn't given up on the issues. He said IFA is about the art of the impossible and that smaller farmers have rights.
Joe Healy said full compensation and flexibility is required. He adds that the EU has been let off too lightly on the issue.
9.50pm
Burns obviously changed elements of the speech over the weekend. He picked up on the grain issue which was a big one from Cork central last week. Less about him, more about issues and sectors. He gets a strong applause and now we're on to questions.
9.44pm
Burns really goes for passion tonight. It is certainly the most forceful I've heard him at any of the debates so far.
9.40pm
TIE WATCH
McCarthy keeps it local with a red number with Healy (purple) and Burns (blue and white) are wearing their county colours.
9.38pm
McCarthy is giving a good account of his IFA experiences and his own farming background. Big applause for Flor as he finished up. Next and final speaker is Henry Burns.
9.32pm
Joe is finished his speech. Flor McCarthy is next up to the podium.
9.26pm
This is my third time hearing Healy's speech. Little has changed. Clear and concise.
9.21pm
Before Healy can start, Cotter does his best parish priest impression by telling those standing at the back that there are plenty of seats at the front. Bar one or two braves souls, nobody makes a move to the front. There was a good buzz in the change over. A few more entered the room. Calving is keeping people away though, naturally.
9.20pm
POSTER WATCH
Strategic poster battle tonight. Flor's team must have got here first. His poster are very prominent on both sides of the top. The Healy team have posters facing the audience and also on the exit doors getting a good chance for face recognition, while the Burns team has priority around the tea and coffee area. All smart in their own way. Not sure who wins that one.
Deputies' wrap up is done and Billy Cotter will get the presidents going now shortly.
First up is Joe Healy.
9.15pm
Fairly rapid case for the deputies tonight. Chairman Billy Cotter finished the questions and the three candidates make their one minute summary.
9.10pm
Great question to the deputy candidates from Maura Horgan. For sure, the best I've heard at any of the husting thus far.
Maura asks if the IFA is going to protect farms in the event of a marriage break up. The three men were left a bit shaken and stirred by that one.
Richard Kennedy said that he puts his "hands up, I've no answer." He adds that "it's something the organisation needs to look at".
Pat Farrell said that the IFA has looked at pre-nups in the past but "got no action from the Minister for Justice" before adding that it needs to be re-examined.
Nigel Renaghan said that "we need to protect family farms" that "pre-nups are needed" but that they are not allowed for under current law.
Well done, Maura.
9.01pm
The political leaders are preparing for a general election debate in Dublin tonight but the IFA election is still keeping enough people interested here in Cork north.
Six of the seven leaders have arrived for the live debate https://t.co/dFNPO0ixix pic.twitter.com/CootTkZHQD
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 15, 2016
9pm
The audience must be holding out for the presidential candidates. Bar a couple others on milk price and the age profile in farming, the questions are slow for the deputy candidates.
8.57pm
Good round of opening questions from the floor tonight.
The candidates are asked what they will do to change the structure of the IFA.
Pat Farrell said that he would ensure that salaries are benchmarked.
Richard Kennedy said that the Con Lucey report is a good foundation but not a complete job. "If we want the best people we wil lhave to pay them accordingly".
Nigel Renaghan said that he would implement the Con Lucey report. He added that staff are being paid on behalf of members and they are entiteld to a wage but they must not "take advantage of us (the IFA members)".
All answers well received.
8.41pm
Cork north chairman Billy Cotter is the master of ceremonies here tonight and looking to keep everything under control.
8.11pm
Deputy president candidates are speaking in the following order Richard Kennedy, Nigel Renaghan and Pat Farrell.
8.10pm
We're looking at numbers in the region of 150 to 200 here tonight.
We're liveblogging from the Cork north #IFAelection hustings. Click here to follow our blog. https://t.co/UGRI9YuWMT pic.twitter.com/K4sttC1I9P
— Farmers Journal (@farmersjournal) February 15, 2016
7.52pm
A couple the candidates have taken to the Twitter machine ahead of tonight's husting in Cork north.
The start of another week of IFA Election Debates with Mallow tonight. Hope to see friends and supporters at the GAA Complex later.
— Flor McCarthy (@FlorMcCarthy1) February 15, 2016
Mallow tonight I've got some great friends in cork looking forward to seeing them .only problem today is it forgot my toothbrush
— nigel renaghan (@NRenaghan) February 15, 2016
On the way to the weekly supporters meeting. Thanks to all the lads and ladies giving up hot dates for campaign #valentines #ifaelection
— Henry Burns (@HenryBurnsIFA) February 14, 2016
7.49pm
We have arrived at the GAA grounds here in Mallow for the Cork north IFA president and deputy president hustings. It was a testing first week last week for the candidates. Let's see how they do tonight.
The Irish Farmers Journal will continue to bring you live blogs of all debates where presidential candidates are present at Farmersjournal.ie and on the mobile app.
Confirmed IFA election debates details
| North Cork | GAA Complex, Mallow | Mon 15 Feb |
| Kerry (deputy presidential candidates only) | Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee | Tue 16 Feb |
| Limerick (presidential candidates only) | Woodlands Hotel, Adare | Wed 17 Feb |
| Clare | Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis | Thu 18 Feb |
| Wexford | Riverside, Enniscorthy | Mon 22 Feb |
| Kilkenny | Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny | Tue 23 Feb |
| Carlow | Dolmen Hotel, Carlow | Wed 24 Feb |
| Wicklow | Woodenbridge Hotel, Arklow | Thu 25 Feb |
| South Tipperary | Cahir House Hotel, Cahir | Mon 29 Feb |
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