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Cavan suckler and beef farmer Joe Brady has announced his intention to run for IFA president.
Brady is the current IFA rural development chair and previously served as Cavan county chair from 2002 to 2006.
He said he intends to be a uniting voice for Irish farming families.
“You can only fight and win if you have a membership that is united and focused, and that is going to be my immediate priority, if I become the next IFA President,” Brady said.
Division
Recent divisions in the farmer voice had been music to the ears of s processors to retailers and has allowed politicians to ignore the concerns of farming families, he added.
“Those who ignored the voice of the livestock sector, have to shoulder significant responsibility for their inaction that led to the genuine concerns and anger of grass roots beef farmers spilling onto the streets recently. This will not happen for any farmer under my leadership” Brady promised.
Brady said that unless the IFA changes, further divisions are inevitable.
He said his focus would be on ensuring all those actively involved in any farming sector on a part- or full-time basis were fully supported and defended by the IFA.
“I am asking for the support and the vote of all IFA members across the country, and I assure you of my absolute commitment to working hard in pursuit of solutions to the many issues facing, and likely to face Irish farming businesses in the months and years ahead," Brady concluded.
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