The IFA hustings resumed for week four with a low-key event in Cahir. Perhaps the full attendance were "politicked-out" after the drama of the general election over the weekend, but there was a lack of engagement at times, with enough questions to keep the candidates occupied, but no big queue of hands in the air.
In front of a large crowd of over 300, the three key areas were IFA reform levies, and farm incomes.
Bord Bia came in for criticism, with deputy president candidate Nigel Renaghan and president candidate Joe Healy having sharp words for the Bord Bia inspections.
Kerryman and president candidate Flor McCarthy had a lot of support in the room, but it had the distinct feel being led by of a roving Kerry contingent. The third man in the president race Henry Burns spoke with conviction of his belief that IFA can restore itself following the issues the organisation has suffered since November of 2015.
Connacht
Tipperary south was the last time the candidates will visit Munster to address members. The hustings now move to Connacht, where discontent with IFA has been deepest-rooted and strongest.
We will bring you all the action from Mayo tomorrow night. Expect that one to be tough for everyone.
You can follow all the action from the hustings in south Tipperary as it happened on Monday night
11.01
And with that, we're into the final speeches. Joe opens with a hurling analogy, familiar to anyone who has read his weekly mart and factory reports in the Farming Independent. "If the Tipperary hurlers have one player nor carrying his weight, then change has to be made" Joe would know, his brother-in-law is the Tipp manager, Michael Ryan.
I saw him at the Carlow hustings last week. They mightn't be a hurling stronghold, to paraphrase, Michael Ó Muircheartaigh, but they love their hurling in Carlow
That's it for the first night of the fourth week of the hustings. Report to follow shortly.
Flor closes by saying that the meeting has identified the two key issues, unity and incomes. He says he has the track record of being able to unify, and that as he farms across all types of land he can understand all farmers' perspectives. He can deliver on incomes at the helm of a stronger and unified IFA
10.56pm
Joe refers to Harold Kingston, who, at IFA's lowest ebb, spoke form the international climate change conference with clarity and insight. It's a well made point. Farmers like Harold (an Irish Farmers Journal contributor) and Con Ryan before him, have made IFA what it became, and what it can be again.
Flor says that it's vital that IFA gets back to representing the members views and interests. "It will happen, because it has to happen," he says. Flor has a relentlessly positive view of the potential for healing.
Henry recalls that at Christmas, his own IFA branch buried a man who, for 25 years served as secretary. A man who ensured that a busload of people left the branch for national protests, he says. A man who never took a penny for what he did, because he believed in the IFA. "I believe in the IFA " he adds.
10.55pm
At the start of the night, the chairman Simon Ryan ruled a question out of order because the questioner is from Upperchurch, which is in North Tipperary.
He now takes the question as the closing intervention from the floor "having received three texts telling me I was hard on you".
The man in question is Con Ryan. He was the rural development chairman who delivered in the past. He says he has always been proud of IFA, but that now, the feeling is of anger and frustration, and even shame. "I still believe in the IFA" he says.
10.47pm
Flor McCarthy says reports are not enough "We need more action from Commissioner Hogan" he says, adding that input costs are of critical importance to farmers margins and incomes.
10.46pm
The Bord Bia inspections are causing more worry among farmers than the department inspections says Joe Healy, calling for "a little cop on".
On the fertiliser report, Henry Burns calls for the commissioner to act. Joe says IFA has driven the fertiliser report.
10.44pm
Johnny O'Brien and John Coughlan, the two Munster regional chair candidates, are along tonight.
10.42pm
Ann Kehoe, who raised those questions re transparency, was the national director of GEGA, the green energy growers association that had big plans for miscanthus growing and processing, but fell foul of the collapse of the tiger economy it was born into.
10.38pm
Joe Healy says that, as a presidential candidate, he was invited to attend the executive council meeting that Enda Kenny was a guest of. The issue of whether to delve back further than the 2009 line that the Con Lucey report drew was discussed, and Joe says that there was division on what would be best, to go back further or not.
10.36pm
"A good way to restore credibility is to ensure transparency," Joe says. "The members should know what is going on," he adds. Joe again refers to the failings of the Dowling report, (brought in in 2005, under Michael Berkery's tenure, not Pat Smith's, by the way).
10.33pm
Henry says he was on council "representing the livestock committee's view" whether it was in agreement with the president or the general secretary or in opposition to them. Henry clarifies that the independent remuneration committee will be brought back to council.
10.31pm
Flor says he wanted a review of Pat Smith's performance, that the wage issues were not out there. "A person is entitled to put his case forward," he says, adding in the absence of information he couldn't vote against Pat Smith, but as he did not have confidence in Pat Smith, he did not vote in favour.
10.28pm
Anne Kehoe, former sheep committee member, commends the six candidates for their courage in standing. She then says that the candidates have been sidestepping some issues, and that IFA have lost the respect they once had.
She sounds genuinely angry. "How brave are you going to be in the future," she asks adding she has no tolerance for people who abstain from votes. That's a barb for Henry and Flor, who both abstained on the motion of confidence in Pat Smith last January.
10.24pm
Levies again. It feels like we're going around in circles tonight.
Henry reminds the meeting that the IFA doubled its membership fee and halved its membership, with no increase in income.
Joe has spoken of the breakdown, and said that he thinks the problems around the levies concerns the factories, who only are involved in €1.1m of the €4.7m that is collected across not just factories, but also dairy co-ops, marts, and grain merchants.
10.16pm
We had some slight Wi-Fi-related problems but we're back into the swing of things now.
Another question from the floor and this one is from James O’Brien, Clonmel
James asks “will you go back further than the Lucey report, or will the last people be the scapegoats for a regime that went back for decades”. The chair rules that the Lucey report and related issues has been dealt with.
10.07pm
Joe Healy then says it's crucial that the next Agriculture Minister is for agriculture only, which is supported from the floor by applause.
10.04pm
"It's crucial that the next CEO brings people together" says Henry Burns. "The IFA was formed from 67 different splinter groups, and was respected and feared because of the mandate this brought. "
10.02pm
Dermot Ryan is next to speak from the floor
“I have worked with Flor, and found him to be very effective, and I am now on the Farm Business committee with Joe, and he is effective. “I haven’t been on a committee with Henry, but I’m sure they are three good fellows.”
He then speaks of the general election result, which resulted in the loss of one Junior Minister –(Tom Hayes, who lost his seat) and one Minister (Alan Kelly, who held his seat, but as a Labour party TD can expect to be on the opposition benches for the foreseeable future) in Tipperary. He wonders how IFA can get access to the corridors of power now.
9.55pm
The next question is from former Macra president TJ Maher re what qualities are required in the person who will become the next IFA chief executive. The answers are pretty similar, to be honest. Joe refers to the timescale "the sooner the better" is Joe's verdict.
This election is the main reason we don't have a new CEO, only the next President has the mandate to make the appointment.
9.53pm
Joe comes back in re TAMS, and Flor's suggestion that Joe didn't understand how IFA achieves its' objectives. "There were 250 items mentioned for TAMS funding, and grain wasn't mentioned," he says. "Grain farmers had to lobby to be included, and they were. Those are the facts".
9.48pm
Henry Burns
"We had to tackle the retailers when was on the sheep committee," he says. "You won't find New Zealand lamb on supermarket shelves, but that took a two year campaign. It takes time, it's not perfect, but what do we do- we go back, and we go back harder, and we achieve change."
9.45pm
Flor follows him, and takes issue with Joe's assertion that IFA had not put enough pressure for a regulator. "It shows he hasn't been around for the last four years" says the Kerryman. "IFA lobbied and marched and protested on this issue. That is what we do, we are a lobby organisation, not the government".
9.42pm
Former grain chair Noel Delaney has asked a question re how we get a fair share as farmers. Joe talks of the need for a regulator. Speaking of grain farmers, Joe refers to the open letter carried in the farmers Irish Farmers Journal about representation of grain farmers, about a months ago. "There wasn't one whinge in it" says Joe. He’s not going to repeat the mistakes of Enda Kenny.
9.40pm
That was an impassioned intervention from Dick Burke. That apart, tonight has been flat. There has been no flashpoint yet.
9.38pm
Flor McCarthy
"The next president will have to get out the information the members want on pay levels going back. He’ll be out if he doesn't.
"We have to get back to what TJ Maher and Rickard Deasy focused on, farmers’ income. |The sooner it gets back to working for farmers the better".
9.35pm
Joe Healy
"The salary of the chief executive and the financial controller needs to be itemised, and not hidden in the overall figures.
"It's better to get everything out in the open now, not have something coming out in six months’ time"
Joe says a friend of his, a Waterford farmer, described November's events as being like "being let down by your best friend", and vows that won't happen on his watch
9.33pm
Henry Burns on governance
"The organisation was started on a voluntary basis. It was a good thing that it was put on a professional footing, raising revenue, and opening a Brussels office".
a small few people at the top; an entitlement culture pervaded".
"As regards looking further back, (than 2009), we can do that, the information is there, but the most important thing is that we look forward and put things on a sound footing".
"I'm an ordinary family farmer, I couldn't have spent 200 days a year away from the farm as livestock chair if I wasn't paid. It allowed me to pay a man to be on the farm when I was away. I'm being honest, I've published my expenses.
9.30pm
Stop the presses...
Flor McCarthy has launched his campaign song and it's a top tapper. Will Henry and Joe get the guitars out?
I would like to introduce my campaign song. I hope you all enjoy.Lyrics and music by the very talented Dan... https://t.co/i2h1kpZvzN
— Flor McCarthy (@FlorMcCarthy1) February 29, 2016
9.28pm
"There was no control of finances, until somebody blew the whistle" says Dick Burke, a contributor from the floor. "Older members are very angry, because they took no expenses. I served with Rickard Deasy and TJ Maher, and they took not a penny for their services."
9.22pm
Two references to their better halves there. I know it's 29 February and all but...
9.21pm
Henry Burns wife Clare has been along every night, and could give his, or the other two candidates opening speech, by rote at this stage.
9.19pm
Joe Healy in reference to his wife Margaret, a Tipperary native. "Though she's spent more than half her life in Galway, it's Slievenamon that is still her song, not the Fields of Athenry". That gets a round of applause, including from Margaret, a regular attendee, who is sitting beside John Donnelly.
9.17pm
We're on to the third candidate now and that, as we all should know by now is Joe Healy from Galway.
Opposing the Slaney/ABP deal, Healy says "It's more competition we need in the beef sector, not less".
There's an ABP plant in Cahir which was renovated and launched last year.
9.06pm
“IFA is bigger than one man” says Henry Burns. "I’m only one of three candidates, but we have to get it right”.
9.03pm
Flor McCarthy gets a huge roar when finishes his address. Locals or a Kerry travelling army buoyed by the success of the Healy-Raes in the general election?
8.58pm
Flor says that when he first went looking for a grant scheme for farm development, he was told that there was enough slurry storage in the country.
8.55pm
Flor McCarthy is first up. he starts by thanking South Tipperary IFA and its chairman Simon Ryan- chair tonight as well- for their nomination to help him into the race.
8.54pm
Standing at the back, spare seats at the front. An Irish phenomenon at meetings or Mass. pic.twitter.com/EjqvyHHHqB
— Pat O Toole (@potooleifj) February 29, 2016
8.52pm
And just like that, it's over. That was the shortest deputy presidential debate to date. Perhaps the general election has worn everyone out.
8.43pm
Levies next. Richard wants to see members asked for their views. Perhaps levies could be paid directly by members, he suggests. It might mean a 10% saving of collection charges. Nigel Renaghan repeats his IFA telecom idea form other evenings that if 60,000 IFA members joined it could replace levies. Then he suggests that the €5m that farmers pay to Bord Bia could fund IFA instead. "I've real problems with Bord Bia" he says. Pat Farrell has already suggested a vote be taken on levies across membership, acknowledging that the income they generate will not be easily replaced, Pat has consistently maintained a sober and balanced approach to the burning issues, while always pointing out his stance in relation to Pat Smith's stewardship of the IFA.
8.31pm
The first question is related to how the candidates would heal the organisation. The three candidates all agree that it's about closing the rift between grassroots members and national officers.
The second question is on similar lines. The questioner says "we had an executive council that changed the rules to save their own hide" He then asks how can members be convinced that change is coming not from the top, but from the bottom. "The only possible way we can heal the organisation is from the ground up" agrees Richard. Nigel says that the Lucey report invited and received submissions from around the country, which must be listened to. Pat Farrell suggests a vote at branch level on the levies. Direct democracy in the IFA?
8.23pm
Pat Farrell has followed Nigel, and now it's Richard Kennedy's turn. The five minute presentations are pretty unchanged from night to night. Nigel wants to do for all farmers what he did for poultry farmers- increase their income (disputed by Pat Farrell), Richard Kennedy is the man who has come back to help fix the mess that has so damaged the IFA, and Pat Farrell is the man who stood against the previous regime.
8.17pm
Welcome to Cahir. If you're not totally electioned out after the weekend's shenanigans, Nigel Renaghan has just kicked off proceedings at the South Tipperary hustings. Nigel and Pat Farrell clashed sharply over the Monaghan man's record as poultry chairman last Wednesday night. It's a sedate start tonight by comparison.
8.00pm
We're in the Cahir House hotel where the south Tipperary IFA election debate will start shortly. While the candidates and the audience get ready, you can browse our gallery above for photos of last Wednesday's hustings in Carlow.
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.
| Mayo | Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar | Tue 1 Mar |
| Galway |
Raheen Woods, Athenry Deputy presidential candidates only, no live blog
| Thu 3 Mar |
| Westmeath | Mullingar Park Hotel | Fri 4 Mar |
| Sligo and Leitrim | Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon | Mon 7 Mar |
| Roscommon | Abbey Hotel, Roscommon | Tue 8 Mar |
| Donegal | Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny | Wed 9 Mar |
| Cavan | Hotel Kilmore, Cavan | Thu 10 Mar |
| Dublin | White House, St Margarets | Fri 11 Mar |
| Longford | Longford Arms Hotel | Mon 14 Mar |
| Monaghan | Glencarn Hotel, Castleblaney | Tue 15 Mar |
| Louth | Dooleys Edmondstown, Ardee | Wed 16 Mar |
| Laois | Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Deputy presidential candidates only, no live blog | Mon 21 Mar |
| Kildare | Keadeen Hotel - presidential debate only | Mon 29 Feb |
| Meath | Newgrange Hotel, Navan | Wed 23 Mar |
| Offaly | Tullamore Court Hotel | Tue 29 Mar |
| South Tipperary | Cahir House Hotel, Cahir | Mon 29 Feb |
SHARING OPTIONS