The new President of the IFA, Joe Healy, has said that competition is what is needed to improve beef farm incomes in Ireland and that along with farm incomes, transparency within IFA will be a key focus for his presidency.
However, he said his immediate priority will be finding a new Chief Executive for the organisation, whose salary will be known to IFA members.
Speaking after his election on Tuesday, Healy said that it was crucial a Chief Executive was appointed to the IFA as soon as possible, but it would be vital to get the right person.
In relation to salaries, he said, talk around high-level salaries within IFA is just speculation. “I haven’t been privy to that information but it’s an area that the Chief Executive and President will have to look at.”
He also said that it was of vital importance that the key areas of the Con Lucey report are implemented.
“We’ve met farmers around the country, on doorsteps, in milking parlours and in slatted sheds. The message was clear – farm incomes it is an absolute need and must for those to be increased to a sustainable margin.
“And then the whole issue of transparency around the income and expenditure of the organisation, that must be there to restore the trust and credibility among farmers.”
He said beef factories opening up a gap of €300 between an animal here and a similar animal in the UK, as happened last year, was unacceptable. “That should not happen.”
Competition, he said is the “biggest stick to beat the factories with”.
Competition will only be achieved if we can ensure a vibrant live export trade to Northern Ireland and Britain and Continental Europe or to Turkey, Egypt or the Lebanon.
“I will be following up on the news that is there around Turkey at the moment as that seems to be a fairly lucrative market and if we can keep live exports going that will be competition for the beef.”
On dairy incomes, he says the price of inputs can be tackled. If the anti dumping tariffs and duties can be removed from fertiliser, Healy said Irish farmers can be buying their fertiliser on average of €40-50/t cheaper than they are at the moment.