The membership of the IFA Executive Board looks set to remain in place despite motions calling for their resignation in recent weeks.
At an ongoing late night meeting of the IFA’s National Council in its headquarters in Dublin, the IFA Executive Board survived a motion of no confidence. The vote was taken by means of a secret ballot.
The meeting also saw a vote of no confidence in Deputy President Tim O’Leary and Treasurer Jer Bergin, which both also survived.
The vote came as the farming community continues to be rocked by pay revelations in the country’s largest farming organisation. Recent weeks have seen Pat Smith and Eddie Downey both resigning from the IFA, as General Secretary and President respectively.
Today, further revelations came to light following the release of a report by Con Lucey into the governance of the organisation with former president Padraig Walshe receiving €175,000 in 2009, including the use of the car, while in 2013 John Bryan received €169,400 in total including IFA Telecom fees.
Of note from the figures revealed in the report is that each President was the recipient of a termination payment equivalent to one year’s remuneration on leaving office. In the case of former President Padraig Walshe, the payment was in excess of €180,000
The Presidents above were each invited to the board of FBD Holdings during their tenure. The current directors’ fees level is €39,600.
Con Lucey delivered his report to the IFA Executive Council today (Tuesday) in Bluebell.
Lucey took up the remit in the wake of the resignation of General Secretary Pat Smith and President Eddie Downey.
Pat Smith resigned when his remuneration package was revealed to be €543,000 in 2013, while Eddie Downey resigned on the back of negotiating a €2m exit package with Smith, which the IFA is now disputing.