The IFA national executive council voted to remove the reference to “regional chair” in the rule, meaning that part-time farmers can now put themselves forward for the position.

Prior to the IFA elections, rule 75(b) caused major problems for the Connacht region when the only man to receive the backing of his own county executive and the backing of another county executive to become chair of the region, Roscommon’s John O’Beirne, was disqualified from the race due to the fact that he was not a full-time farmer at the time of his nominations.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal after Wednesday’s rule change, O’Beirne said he was glad to see the rule change, and that it was now time to sort out the Connacht situation.

“Every farmer that pays membership should have the opportunity to go for senior positions in the IFA. I work as many hours on the farm as anyone else.

“The majority of farmers in the west work outside the farm gate for extra income. With the structure and size of farms, they have no choice – it’s out of necessity. In my job with An Post, I start early in the morning, finish early in the day, and then I have a long day of farming still ahead of me,” he said.

Leave of absence

O’Beirne took leave of absence after being eliminated from the Connacht race “to prove a point”.

“I don’t think it is discrimination as such. It’s just a rule that was there for years and years, and most of us weren’t even aware of it until something like this happens, and the rule surfaces.

“Down the line, they are probably going to have to address the issue for president and deputy president,” he said.

Top positions

However, the view remains within the IFA that only a full-time farmer can take up the role of president and deputy president.

When you look to the west of Ireland, especially, many farmers cannot get a full income off the farm, so they have to take up other work

“There is a very strong view within the IFA that to run for the two top positions, president and deputy president, you must be a full-time farmer,” said Tim Cullinane, Munster representative on the national rules committee. “In these roles you have to represent farmers across all sectors, so you have to be really up to speed with the current issues. There’s nobody better than the farmer himself, to feel the real pain – the income of part-time farmers is just not the same.”

Cullinane said that the rule was changed for regional chair only. “When you look to the west of Ireland, especially, many farmers cannot get a full income off the farm, so they have to take up other work,” he said.

Connacht

O’Beirne said that he will now consider putting himself forward for Connacht regional chair again.

“My understanding is that the five Connacht chairs will now put forward two candidates. I’m considering putting myself forward once again. I will see what the feeling is on the ground first,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

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