Clear the whole lot out – Galway farmers voice their anger

GALWAY IFA delegates have this week called for an immediate ‘clear out’ of the top brass of the Association at national level in the wake of the pay controversies that have broken in the past week.

During the course of a sometimes heated three hour emergency meeting in Athenry on Tuesday night, anger spilled out at the revelations of pay levels to both former General Secretary, Pat Smith and ‘stepped back’ National President, Eddie Downey.

Senior IFA figures in Galway and Connacht spoke of their ‘disappointment, hurt and shame’ following the disclosure last week that in 2013, the General Secretary had been paid a total of €535,000.

Delegates also expressed concerns over the levels of pay to Eddie Downey – €147,000 plus €50,000 in add-ons – figures that emerged earlier this week.

Connacht Regional Chairman, Tom Turley, told Tuesday night’s meeting in the Raheen Woods Hotel that he ‘was sickened to the teeth’ about the pay levels.

“It’s an utterly terrible situation – these figures are off the wall. I feel ashamed. The house has been knocked down – all we can do now is to try and rebuild it,” said Tom Turley.

Galway County Chairman, Pat Murphy, opened the meeting by issuing an apology to all delegates, IFA members and farmers in the county for what had happened.

“All I can do is to offer a full and complete apology for what has happened. I, like every other ordinary member of IFA, am hurt, ashamed and disappointed at wages like this being paid out.

“Over the coming days, we will be getting a full disclosure of the salaries and expenses of all other staff. When this figure [Pat Smith’s pay] came out, I just had an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach that this kind of money could be paid to one person,” said Pat Murphy.

There were many heated and emotional contributions from the floor of the meeting attended by about 100 people from IFA branches all across the county.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.