The board of North Cork Creameries has officially confirmed that Gerald Burns is no longer the chair of the co-op.

In a letter to milk suppliers, the vice chair of the board Sean Morrison, said the board wanted to address a notification sent to suppliers on Thursday, October 15 in relation to the election of Gerald Burns as chair of the co-op.

The move came after former chair Thomas O’Donoghue informed the board of his wish to step down from the position.

In the letter, seen by Agriland, the board thanked Thomas O’Donoghue for his dedication and commitment to the co-op, its suppliers and shareholders, particularly over the past 18 months.

"Thomas has played a pivotal role in guiding North Cork Co-operative Creameries Limited through a period of significant challenge and change, demonstrating considerable determination and commitment of time and energy beyond the normal responsibilities of the role," Morrison wrote.

The letter confirmed that O’Donoghue will continue to be a "valued member of the board".

North Cork Creameries

As previously reported by Agriland, the North Cork Creameries board held its monthly meeting on Tuesday (October 20), following which Gerald Burns was no longer the chair of the co-op.

"Following a board meeting this week, it was established that the necessary procedural requirements under the rules of the Society had not been fully satisfied in relation to the proposed appointment of Gerald Burns, and it is therefore not possible for Gerald’s proposed role as chairman to proceed.

"The board is committed to ensuring that all appointments and governance matters are conducted fully in accordance with the rules of the Society," Morrison said.

"It is important to emphasise that this is solely a procedural and administrative matter and does not reflect in any way on Mr Gerald Burns personally, his potential suitability for the role or his good faith in which he accepted the proposed appointment," the letter added.

Morrison confirmed that as vice chair, he will "continue to oversee matters together with the entire board and management, ensuring continuity and effective oversight of the co-operative’s activities".

The letter stated that a process for the election of a new chairman "will take place in due course, in accordance with the society’s rules".

"I am pleased to confirm that North Cork Creameries continues to make progress across its business activities, with the board and management remaining fully focused on the interests of its milk suppliers and shareholders, and the long-term sustainability of the co-operative," Morrison said.

AGM

The letter did not outline any plans for the co-op to hold an annual general meeting (AGM).

Earlier this week, Conor O'Leary, Munster Regional chair of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), called on North Cork Creameries to hold an AGM.

He said that suppliers are eager to hear about the current financial status of the co-op.

"From a reasonable point of view, you'd have to be really concerned that the AGM, which should have been held long before now, hasn't been held, that farmers themselves don't really have sight of how the financial situation [is] in the co-op," he told Agriland.

It has been a difficult year for North Cork Creameries after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suspended the co-op's licence to discharge water from its wastewater treatment plant.

The EPA confirmed that it had lifted the suspension of North Cork Creameries' discharge licence in July.

North Cork Creameries reached an agreement with Carbery in April on a new commercial milk supply agreement.