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”.
€10,000 a week. Many working families don't take home that amount a year. #IFAgate #vinb #todaysor
— ✳☃🆗Andrew Brennan✳☃🆎 (@AndrewSB49) November 24, 2015
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Author Lorna Sixsmith said she was cancelling her membership to the IFA and that farmers need representation.
Cancelling membership here #IFA Farmers need representation, iFA need to prove they can do so
— Lorna Sixsmith 🐄 🇺🇦🇮🇪 (@LornaESixsmith) November 26, 2015
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Micheal Coughlan tweeted that the IFA was seen as a talking shop for big farmers and overpaid executives.
Any wonder many farmers have left the #IFA over recent years – seen a talking shop for big farmers and overpaid executives #IFAgate
— Michéal Coughlan (@MichealCoughlan) November 25, 2015
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As the night wore on, Agriland Editor Margaret Donnelly remained at Farm Centre to await news.
Agriland editor @magdonnellyis burning the candle at both ends waiting on news from #IFAgate pic.twitter.com/qV9ZQTm3jS
— Agriland (@AgrilandIreland) November 26, 2015
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MEP Luke Ming Flanagan also had something to say about the Secretary General’s pay package.
ICMSA with 15000+ members has a total wage bill less than what Pat Smith exIFA was receiving on his own.Gets crazier all the time. #IFAgate
— Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (@lukeming) November 24, 2015
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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.
Oblivious to the #IFAgate #angus #hardyhoors pic.twitter.com/wK9hewsc5x
— Dara Walton (@WaltonDara) November 26, 2015
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Talk of who’s to take over as Secretary General also surfaced on Twitter, with Giovanni Trappatoni being suggested:
Rody Molloy, Alan Shatter, Giovanni Trapattoni & Paul Galvin among those being linked to take over at helm of #ifa#IFAgate #patsmith #vinb
— Seán Perry (@perry_sean) November 25, 2015
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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.
SITUATIONS VACANT
Irish Farmer's Association seek new Boss.
Salary €450,000
Must like cows.
— Dustin The Turkey (@DustinOfficial) November 20, 2015
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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.
FIFA set to make a takeover bid for the Irish Farmers Association.#IFAgate #FIFA #corruption
— Dustin The Turkey (@DustinOfficial) November 24, 2015
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