“I know the importance of the €1.2bn in Single Farm Payment [now Basic Payment Scheme] to every farmer in this country. As a beef farmer, it is often my only income.”
The concentration of Pat Farrell’s campaign for deputy president is on farm incomes and ensuring that the sole focus of the next IFA general secretary is the same.
“I remember my dad, PJ talking of the early days of NFA and then IFA,” said Farrell. “I know how things were. I remember when the only focus of the association was farm incomes. This will also be my focus.”
He believes that the pay of the general secretary, president and deputy president should be left to the remuneration committee to decide.
But he says it is not unreasonable to want your farm to be looked after well during the term of office.
“I would be anxious that the farm is looked after properly,” said Farrell. “Absolutely the members should be made aware of the salaries – they’re paying for it. The gravy train is over.”
Farrell aims to return the association to the members by restoring the power of national committees to develop policy and ensure pay is benchmarked.
“I want to rebuild a strong association that respects the hard work of those who worked tirelessly for the association over the last 61 years,” said Farrell. “An association all farmers will want to be part of and know that their voice will be heard and listened to.”
As chair of the national environment committee, Farrell said he lobbied Commissioner Hogan’s Department to secure a €2m reduction in nitrates penalties
“We secured the continuation of the nitrates derogation for dairy and livestock farmers, increased rates of nitrogen for the tillage sector, increased phosphorous for grassland reseeding and an extension of the phosphorous provisions for the pig and poultry sector.”
Priorities
Farrell’s priorities as deputy president are not only returning the voice of the organisation to members and ensuring the focus of the general secretary is on family farm incomes, but also to fight retailers and processors for a fairer return for farm families. Late payments to farmers is also a particular bugbear of his.
“I will no longer tolerate a situation where farmers are expected to wait up to four months for payment,” said Farrell. “I will seek penalties on the Department of Agriculture for late payments to farmers.
“For all of us, whether we like it or not, the Basic Payment is the backbone of our farming business. For many of us, each year it is our only income. You need an experienced deputy president to safeguard your single farm payment, someone who knows his way around Brussels and government buildings.”
Farrell said the IFA is rebuilding right now and he has the ability to “deliver a stronger association, a fairer return to farm families from retailers and processors and a voice for the ordinary IFA member.”
CV
Pat FarrellAge: 56Home farm: Near Athy, Co Kildare.Farms: 98ha.System: Farm 120 suckler cows in partnership with brother Tom. Majority sold as yearlings.Family: Married to Caroline with four children – Peter (25), Ruth (24), David (17) and John (13).Current: Kildare IFA county chair.Past: Chair of national environment committee from 2008 to 2011. Read more
IFA deputy presidential election candidates interviews:
Nigel RenaghanRichard KennedyFull coverage: IFA elections 2016
“I know the importance of the €1.2bn in Single Farm Payment [now Basic Payment Scheme] to every farmer in this country. As a beef farmer, it is often my only income.”
The concentration of Pat Farrell’s campaign for deputy president is on farm incomes and ensuring that the sole focus of the next IFA general secretary is the same.
“I remember my dad, PJ talking of the early days of NFA and then IFA,” said Farrell. “I know how things were. I remember when the only focus of the association was farm incomes. This will also be my focus.”
He believes that the pay of the general secretary, president and deputy president should be left to the remuneration committee to decide.
But he says it is not unreasonable to want your farm to be looked after well during the term of office.
“I would be anxious that the farm is looked after properly,” said Farrell. “Absolutely the members should be made aware of the salaries – they’re paying for it. The gravy train is over.”
Farrell aims to return the association to the members by restoring the power of national committees to develop policy and ensure pay is benchmarked.
“I want to rebuild a strong association that respects the hard work of those who worked tirelessly for the association over the last 61 years,” said Farrell. “An association all farmers will want to be part of and know that their voice will be heard and listened to.”
As chair of the national environment committee, Farrell said he lobbied Commissioner Hogan’s Department to secure a €2m reduction in nitrates penalties
“We secured the continuation of the nitrates derogation for dairy and livestock farmers, increased rates of nitrogen for the tillage sector, increased phosphorous for grassland reseeding and an extension of the phosphorous provisions for the pig and poultry sector.”
Priorities
Farrell’s priorities as deputy president are not only returning the voice of the organisation to members and ensuring the focus of the general secretary is on family farm incomes, but also to fight retailers and processors for a fairer return for farm families. Late payments to farmers is also a particular bugbear of his.
“I will no longer tolerate a situation where farmers are expected to wait up to four months for payment,” said Farrell. “I will seek penalties on the Department of Agriculture for late payments to farmers.
“For all of us, whether we like it or not, the Basic Payment is the backbone of our farming business. For many of us, each year it is our only income. You need an experienced deputy president to safeguard your single farm payment, someone who knows his way around Brussels and government buildings.”
Farrell said the IFA is rebuilding right now and he has the ability to “deliver a stronger association, a fairer return to farm families from retailers and processors and a voice for the ordinary IFA member.”
CV
Pat FarrellAge: 56Home farm: Near Athy, Co Kildare.Farms: 98ha.System: Farm 120 suckler cows in partnership with brother Tom. Majority sold as yearlings.Family: Married to Caroline with four children – Peter (25), Ruth (24), David (17) and John (13).Current: Kildare IFA county chair.Past: Chair of national environment committee from 2008 to 2011. Read more
IFA deputy presidential election candidates interviews:
Nigel RenaghanRichard KennedyFull coverage: IFA elections 2016
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