The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is visiting the IFA today to address its Executive Council and no doubt, with a General Election in the offing try woo the farmer vote.
The IFA usually holds its AGM in January and last year it took place on January 27, so it would seem that Kenny had been lined up for the occasion before the IFA remuneration story broke in November, causing the AGM to be pushed back until later in the year.
A full house is expected today in Bluebell, where Kenny will address the Executive Council and take questions from the floor.
Last year, The Taoiseach addressed the IFA’s AGM dinner while the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney addressed the AGM.
Eddie Downey told The Taoiseach and Minister last year that IFA expected determined action from both on the key farming issues during 2015.
Today will be an opportunity for the IFA to voice the satisfaction, or lack thereof, on all things agriculture with Kenny.
At the recent Fine Gael Ard Fheis lots of figures around exports and the value of agriculture to the country were touted by the Minister for Agriculture and others. However, whether those grand figures will pacify farmers on the ground, or their IFA representatives today, as farm incomes remain historically low, remains to be seen.