The IFA National Council has referred what it describes as a number of potential breaches of its code of conduct to the national rules committee, in response to a CAP policy protest at its headquarters last week.

A group of IFA members gathered outside the Irish Farm Centre on 16 June, demanding change to the IFA’s CAP policy.

The group was led by IFA hill chair Flor McCarthy and former IFA deputy president Derek Deane, along with a group of around 15 farmers, calling on the association to seek a coupled payment for sheep and suckler farmers.

Rules

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the breached rules in question are rule 56 on collective responsibility and rule 86 on media authorisation.

Rule 56 states: “When a majority of the council, national officers’ committee, a national committee or commodity section present and voting at a duly convened meeting has arrived at a decision on any matter, all members of the council, national officers’ committee, a national committee or commodity section are bound by the collective decision and obliged to support it in all respects.”

Rule 86 states: “The president shall be the principal spokesman for the IFA. All information, statements or releases to the national press, radio or television in the name of the IFA must have the prior authority of the president or the director general.

“All information or releases to the press, radio or television in the name of branches or branch officers, county executives or the officers of a county executive must have the prior authority of the chairman of the county executive.”

Confirming the referral of potential breaches to the rules committee, the IFA said it would “use all reasonable means to defend the reputation of our association, officers and staff, and their families, from any inaccurate, personalised or derogatory comments. Such commentary has no place in [the] IFA.”

It added: “[The] IFA is a democratic organisation with established structures. We welcome robust policy debate.

"Any member who wishes to make a policy proposal within IFA can do so through their county executive or through a national committee.”

No backing down

Hill chair Flor McCarthy told the Irish Farmers Journal that he believes no rule was broken during the CAP policy protest.

“I stand over the statements I made. I’ll never apologise for representing small farmers.

"If the IFA has a personal problem with me, I can step aside and let the many step into my position to negotiate,” McCarthy said.

“We can’t condemn lower-income farmers to depending on a just transition. We won’t be backing down.”