Former IFA general secretary's salary revealed after 'very frank' IFA meeting
Former IFA general secretary Pat Smith earned a total package of €445,000 in 2014, it was revealed today.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the Association's 53 strong executive board in Portlaoise this afternoon, president of the Irish Farmers Association Eddie Downey said that Mr Smith's pay package consisted of €295,000 basic, with a pension contribution of €150,000 bringing it to a total of €445,000.
Mr Smith's salary package in 2013 was €535,000 - €295,000 basic, €150,000 pension contribution, €60,000 bonus, €30,000 director's fee.
A company car was included in both years.
Smith stood down as head of the organisation yesterday after a meeting of IFA's executive board.
Mr Downey described the today's emergency session as "a very, very frank meeting"
"What's absolutely clear here is that we're going forward from here, one, as a very strong, united organisation with a strong national council, a clear mandate here.
"But we're going to be more transparent in that we're going to print the general secretary's salary on an annual basis in the set of accounts."
The IFA Executive Council later ratified Bryan Barry as acting general secretary and chief executive of the Association.
