Gorman vows to be a 'strong leader' at IFA Presidential hustings in Tullamore

A PROMISE to be a “strong leader” who will take “whatever action is needed” to represent farmers interests has been made by IFA Presidential contender, Francie Gorman.
Speaking at the IFA Presidential hustings meeting in Tullamore on Tuesday last, Mr Gorman evoked the spirit of the 1960s farmers protest marches and vowed to “regain that respect.”
The hustings debate was attended by hundreds of farmers from Laois, Offaly and Kildare and was also addressed by the other Presidential contender, Martin Stapleton, from Limerick, and the candidates for the position of Deputy President, Pat Murphy, Galway, and Alice Doyle, Wexford.
Mr Gorman, a suckler, beef and sheep farmer from Ballinakill, promised to introduce reforms in the structures of the IFA to regain the respect it enjoyed 20 to 30 years ago.
At the outset of his address, the Laois contender made special reference to his neighbour, Pat Delaney, now in his 90s, who had taken part in the farmer protest marches to Dublin in the 1960s.
He vowed, if elected President, that he would represent all farmers interests, no matter what sector they were involved in..
“I promise to deliver for farmers with strong leadership,” said Mr Gorman, adding that he was “not afraid of a challenge.”
He said he will not spend “forever and a day” negotiating with processors and the Government.
Vowing to build a strong organisation, the Laois farmer stressed the IFA needed to improve communications with its members so they had a clear understanding of the important issues.
“Our farmers who pay membership fees expect better representation that they have been getting,” he stressed.
Mr Gorman, who voiced his opposition to more designations, said farmers had to be properly rewarded for their work on environmental issues.
“We need a scheme that will give farmers at least €15,000 . . . nothing else is any good,” he thundered.
The Ballinakill farmers said many farm families were struggling financially and targetted support was needed for beef, sheep and suckler farmers,
He said that action needed to be taken to secure the future of live experts and access to the European Union single market.
He also highlighted the increasing costs of inputs and said the tillage and dairy sector had been particularly badly affected in the past 12 months.
To applause from the audience, Mr Gorman said a proper management system was needed for the river Shannon.
“This is not just an issue for people in Banagher and Lusmagh but for all those bordering the river and its tributaries,” he added.
“Farm families and business peope are being put out of business as rivers are not being properly maintained,” he pointed out.
Mr Gorman said it was important to encourage more young people to join and become involved in the IFA.
“It shouldn't be about just bringing them in and putting them on buses to demonstrations in Dublin . . . we need them at meetings and on committees.”
He said the IFA needed to develop strong policies on issues such as childcare in order to properly represent young farmers and their families.
Concluding, he stressed, if elected President, he wanted to leave a stronger organisation behind then the one he inherited.
Martin Stapleton, a farmer from Oola in Limerick, also highlighted the importance of the IFA regaining the respect it had once held.
Mr Stapleton, who is the IFA's National Treasurer, said, if elected President, he would focus on unity in the organisation. “Without unity we do not have strength,” he stressed.
Echoing Mr Gorman's comments, the Limerick farmer also highlighted the importance of improving communications between the IFA leadership and its members.
Responding to questions from the audience, Mr Stapleton said the IFA needed to communicate its message more effectively in the national media.
He also stressed the importance of reforms at IFA branch and county executive level and the need to encourage more young people to join the association.
IFA Vice Presidential candidate, Pat Murphy said it was essential the body worked in tandem with other farming organisations. “United we have a lot stronger voice,” he outlined.
The other Vice-Presidential candidate, Alice Doyle, described herself as a strategic thinker who would adopt adopt a logical approach to issues if elected.
She said that farm families were under intense pressure in virtually all sectors and “the list of challenges was endless.”
Speaking from the floor, Aoife Kinnarney, Killeigh IFA, said farmers were being pilloried in national media while Judy Bryant, Killoughey, said the IFA needed to communicate its message more clearlyFor the first time in an IFA election, members will receive their ballot paper in the post and they can either return it by post or cast their ballot at their branch AGM.
The election count will take place on Tuesday, December 12.