Yesterday (November 25) an emergency Executive Council meeting of the IFA was called in order to further address the IFA pay scandal.

The meeting went on for 17 hours with several statements being issued from the association.

Con Lucey was ratified to review the structures in the association, Eddie Downey resigned from his position as President and at 4.30am the IFA offered an unreserved apology over ‘serious failings’.

There were many comments about the story on Twitter throughout the day and #IFAgate was trending on the social media platform.

Andrew Brennan tweeted “€10,000 a week. Many working families don’t take home that amount a year”.

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andrew brennan tweet

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Author Lorna Sixsmith said she was cancelling her membership to the IFA and that farmers need representation.

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lorna sixsmith

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Micheal Coughlan tweeted that the IFA was seen as a talking shop for big farmers and overpaid executives.

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coughlan tweet

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As the night wore on, Agriland Editor Margaret Donnelly remained at Farm Centre to await news.

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Margaret at farm centre

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MEP Luke Ming Flanagan also had something to say about the Secretary General’s pay package.

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ming

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Some people however are taking a lighter approach to #IFAgate

Dara Walton, a grass focused suckler and beef farmer and UCD Ag-Science graduate tweeted a picture of his angus cattle who were oblivious to #IFAgate.

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dara walton tweet

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Talk of who’s to take over as Secretary General also surfaced on Twitter, with Giovanni Trappatoni being suggested:

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sean perry tweet

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Dustin the Turkey even waded in on the debate. He commented that there was a situation vacant in the IFA, with a salary of €450,000.

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Dustin

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Dustin then likened the IFA to FIFA and it’s corruption. He said that FIFA was set to make a takeover bid for the Irish Farmers Association.

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Dustin

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