At least two branches of Roscommon IFA are blocking members from voting for a new president and deputy president of the association.

The branches are calling off their election meetings in protest at the failure to resolve the Connacht regional chair impasse.

Strokestown and Boyle branches were due to vote on Tuesday, but refused to meet. Other branches in the county are poised to follow suit in the days ahead. Strokestown is Roscommon nominee John O’Beirne’s own branch.

ADVERTISEMENT

O’Beirne was initially the only person with the required two nominations, but was disbarred due to his off-farm job. O’Beirne is an An Post employee but has taken leave of absence in order to contest the election.

A second attempt saw each county nominate a candidate, meaning no one could obtain the required second nomination. There is unconfirmed speculation that the action could spread to other counties in the province.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on Tuesday, O’Beirne criticised the IFA for not showing leadership in making sure there was a contest for the Connacht regional chair.

“I’ve sat out of work for seven weeks now, waiting to see what will happen here (with regard to the Connacht race),” O’Beirne said

“I’m going back to work. I’ve made that decision. If the powers that be in the IFA deem me as unfit to take up the role then so be it, but I’m a candidate and I will remain a candidate until such a point that IFA headquarters want to rule me out. I will not sit on my hands waiting from them to make a decision,” O’Beirne said.

The five counties in Connacht were given a deadline of Easter Sunday by the IFA’s executive council to reach an agreement to facilitate an election, but no such agreement was reached.

Voting

Voting is now under way to elect the next president and deputy president of the IFA. Voting in the IFA’s 946 branches commenced this week and will run until Friday 15 April. You can find out when and where your branch will vote on www.farmersjournal.ie.

Around the Editor’s Table

Watch our live debate with the three candidates for IFA president in a special edition of Around the Editor’s Table this Friday 1 April at 8pm on www.farmersjournal.ie.