The paper code cannot be redeemed when browsing in private/incognito mode. Please go to a normal browser window and enter the code there
This content is copyright protected!
However, if you would like to share the information in this article, you may use the headline, summary and link below:
Title: The next steps for the IFA
The hugs have been given, the tears have been dried, and the room has been cleared. It is now time for those elected into high office in the Irish Farmers Association to take on their next challenges.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to farmersjournal.ie on this browser until 9pm next Wednesday. Thank you for buying the paper and using the code.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact us.
For assistance, call 01 4199525
or email subs@farmersjournal.ie
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
Reset password
Please enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address.
Please click on the link in this email to reset
your password. If you can't find it in your inbox,
please check your spam folder. If you can't
find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
Email address not recognised
There is no subscription associated with this email
address. To read our subscriber-only content.
please subscribe or use the reader loyalty code.
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
You have no more free articles this month
We hope you've enjoyed your 6 free articles. To continue reading, sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.
The hugs have been given, the tears have been dried, and the room has been cleared. It is now time for those elected into high office in the Irish Farmers Association to take on their next challenges.
Joe Healy makes his acceptance speech following his election as the president of the IFA.
It was a gruelling campaign for those canvassing to get elected into the most important positions in the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) these past few weeks.
Night after night the three candidates for IFA president and deputy president faced tough questions from IFA members in each county on issues ranging from incomes, to pre-nups, to how they intend to rebuild the trust of the members following the shocking pay revelations of last year.
Now two men have been elected: Joe Healy as president and Richard Kennedy as deputy president.
Both are former Macra presidents, a fact not lost on the organisation, which sent out a press release almost immediately highlighting the happy coincidence.
Healy, who is from Athenry in Co Galway, is the first farmer from the west of Ireland to be elected as IFA president in 20 years.
He is also something of an outsider, being an initially reluctant nominee and the only candidate not sitting on any of the IFA’s national structures.
It is only as a united organisation that we will achieve what we are and achieve what we all about – a viable margin for all farmers going into the future.
He now faces the unenviable task of trying to unite an organisation that was splintered by those pay revelations, but he claims he is ready for the job.
“The organisation has been through a tough period,” he said in his acceptance speech. “But it will come out the other side stronger and better and better able to fight the future. That’s what IFA has to be.”
He addressed the income crisis – the fact that nearly all commodities are currently being sold below the cost of production – and the threat a Mercosur deal poses to Irish beef exports.
“It is only as a united organisation that we will achieve what we are and achieve what we all about – a viable margin for all farmers going into the future,” he said. “Agriculture is the cornerstone of rural Ireland and has to be respected as such. So there’s a huge job of work there for us all.”
Healy's first job as newly-elected president will be a meeting this afternoon with Glanbia, where he will raise the fact that Glanbia suppliers are genuinely questioning the level of base milk price being paid by GII, which has been consistently lower than other milk purchasers. He will then travel to Brussels to attend his first meeting of the COPA Praesidium. There he will meet with other farm leaders to mount strong opposition to any Mercosur trade deal and build support for IFA’s campaign to abolish import tariffs on fertiliser.
Challenges
The challenges for this new remodelled version of the IFA and its president are real. Dairy, beef and tillage incomes are on the floor, Brussels drives a hard bargain with regard to supports, most of the recommendations of the Con Lucey report are still to be implemented and some pushed even further, former general secretary Pat Smith has launched two High Court actions against his former employer, voting turnout in the IFA election was low, ranging from only 25% to 50% of valid members in most counties, and the impasse in trying to form a government means there is no long-term minister for agriculture.
Despite not knowing how long his tenure as agriculture minister will last, Simon Coveney congratulated Joe Healy in a press release last night, saying he has always enjoyed “a good working relationship with the IFA and looks forward to continuing this with Joe”.
Healy and Coveney now have to work together to ensure the promises made at the council of EU agriculture ministers in March are delivered upon, including a near doubling of the intervention ceiling for SMP and the opening of another Private Storage Aid scheme for pigmeat.
AGM
Following this, the next big event for the IFA president will be the organisation’s AGM, due to take place on 27 April in the Irish Farm Centre.
This will also be a key event for Richard Kennedy, the new deputy president, who told the crowds during his acceptance speech that he believes passionately in the IFA.
“It is absolutely critical to my business as a farmer. It is critical to our survival. When we had all the bad news last year, I felt I lost something, and I felt vulnerable. I thought long and hard, and I said: ‘Look, put up your hand and see where it takes you.’ I know it’s only the beginning, and I’ll be here to support Joe all the way.”
Fresh faces and a fresh outlook in the IFA. We don’t know exactly what the next few months will bring for Healy and Kennedy, but what is certain is that both disgruntled IFA members and its supporters alike will be watching with keen interest to see how the phoenix rises from the ashes.
It was a gruelling campaign for those canvassing to get elected into the most important positions in the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) these past few weeks.
Night after night the three candidates for IFA president and deputy president faced tough questions from IFA members in each county on issues ranging from incomes, to pre-nups, to how they intend to rebuild the trust of the members following the shocking pay revelations of last year.
Now two men have been elected: Joe Healy as president and Richard Kennedy as deputy president.
Both are former Macra presidents, a fact not lost on the organisation, which sent out a press release almost immediately highlighting the happy coincidence.
Healy, who is from Athenry in Co Galway, is the first farmer from the west of Ireland to be elected as IFA president in 20 years.
He is also something of an outsider, being an initially reluctant nominee and the only candidate not sitting on any of the IFA’s national structures.
It is only as a united organisation that we will achieve what we are and achieve what we all about – a viable margin for all farmers going into the future.
He now faces the unenviable task of trying to unite an organisation that was splintered by those pay revelations, but he claims he is ready for the job.
“The organisation has been through a tough period,” he said in his acceptance speech. “But it will come out the other side stronger and better and better able to fight the future. That’s what IFA has to be.”
He addressed the income crisis – the fact that nearly all commodities are currently being sold below the cost of production – and the threat a Mercosur deal poses to Irish beef exports.
“It is only as a united organisation that we will achieve what we are and achieve what we all about – a viable margin for all farmers going into the future,” he said. “Agriculture is the cornerstone of rural Ireland and has to be respected as such. So there’s a huge job of work there for us all.”
Healy's first job as newly-elected president will be a meeting this afternoon with Glanbia, where he will raise the fact that Glanbia suppliers are genuinely questioning the level of base milk price being paid by GII, which has been consistently lower than other milk purchasers. He will then travel to Brussels to attend his first meeting of the COPA Praesidium. There he will meet with other farm leaders to mount strong opposition to any Mercosur trade deal and build support for IFA’s campaign to abolish import tariffs on fertiliser.
Challenges
The challenges for this new remodelled version of the IFA and its president are real. Dairy, beef and tillage incomes are on the floor, Brussels drives a hard bargain with regard to supports, most of the recommendations of the Con Lucey report are still to be implemented and some pushed even further, former general secretary Pat Smith has launched two High Court actions against his former employer, voting turnout in the IFA election was low, ranging from only 25% to 50% of valid members in most counties, and the impasse in trying to form a government means there is no long-term minister for agriculture.
Despite not knowing how long his tenure as agriculture minister will last, Simon Coveney congratulated Joe Healy in a press release last night, saying he has always enjoyed “a good working relationship with the IFA and looks forward to continuing this with Joe”.
Healy and Coveney now have to work together to ensure the promises made at the council of EU agriculture ministers in March are delivered upon, including a near doubling of the intervention ceiling for SMP and the opening of another Private Storage Aid scheme for pigmeat.
AGM
Following this, the next big event for the IFA president will be the organisation’s AGM, due to take place on 27 April in the Irish Farm Centre.
This will also be a key event for Richard Kennedy, the new deputy president, who told the crowds during his acceptance speech that he believes passionately in the IFA.
“It is absolutely critical to my business as a farmer. It is critical to our survival. When we had all the bad news last year, I felt I lost something, and I felt vulnerable. I thought long and hard, and I said: ‘Look, put up your hand and see where it takes you.’ I know it’s only the beginning, and I’ll be here to support Joe all the way.”
Fresh faces and a fresh outlook in the IFA. We don’t know exactly what the next few months will bring for Healy and Kennedy, but what is certain is that both disgruntled IFA members and its supporters alike will be watching with keen interest to see how the phoenix rises from the ashes.
The Irish Farmers Journal's Renewables Roadshow is set to take place throughout April and will highlight how you can make renewables pay for your farm, business, and home.
Save to a collection
Recent collections
This article has already been saved
This article has been saved
Create a collection
Subscriber only
This content is available to digital subscribers only. Sign in to your account or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.SIGN INSUBSCRIBE FOR €1
SHARING OPTIONS: