IFA to elect new president after 17-hour meeting overnight
The Executive Council of the Irish Farmer's Association has given the go-ahead to elect a new president after the resignation of Eddie Downey last night.
The IFA said it was one of a number of decisions taken unanimously in the best interests of farmers after a 17-hour long meeting broke up at around 4.30am this morning.
A review of pay and pensions to be carried out by Con Lucey was ratified by the Council, with a report due on December 15.
It was also confirmed that the IFA will launch a legal challenge to the €2m severance package of the former General Secretary Pat Smith.
Chairperson of the Clare IFA branch, Andrew Dundas, said that members are very angry.
"[It's] certainly a tough time for the whole organisation, and in particular Eddie Downey, as well," he said.
He also referred to "a lot of bad information on the Association side coming out with what is an outlandish severance package for Pat Smith".
Patrick Donohoe, news editor with the Irish Farmers Journal, said that there are tense times ahead at the Association.
"There's now 60 days until the next president must be appointed, so there's going to be elections within that 60 days, the 946 branches of the IFA will go to the polls," he said.
"[There has been] very, very shocking news coming out of the IFA and out of Irish farm centres but I suppose the way that things have been moving, it's not unexpected really when you stand back and look at the whole situation."
