IFA pig farmers are set to protest outside IFA HQ, over what they say are ongoing issues within the pig industry that are not being addressed.
Some 13 members of the Pigs Committee have signed a motion calling for the Chairman Pat O’Flaherty to resign and it is understood that IFA pig farmer members are set to picket IFA in the coming days.
One farmer, who asked not to be named, said pig farmers were not being represented properly. “We are paying our levies and we’re not getting action.”
Another said it was unjust that pig farmers were still waiting to be paid EU pig aid money. “We are still waiting the pig EU aid money and no one has received it. Dairy farmers received their money before Christmas. Where is ours?”
More than half of the 23-strong pigs committee are believed to have written to the Pigs Secretary stating their dissatisfaction with the current Pigs Chairman Pat O’Flaherty.
At the Pigs Committee January meeting the election of a new Chairman was broached, as it was the mid-term review of the current Chairman’s post. His position was challenged and the first vote was a dead heat, but a second vote saw support swing in his favour by one vote and he held onto his seat.
The latest twist in the ongoing Pigs Committee issues come after a meeting of the pigs committee, which was scheduled for this Friday, was cancelled earlier this week.
The IFA declined to comment.