Tag Archives: Con Lucey

CONFIDENCE in the country’s leading lobby group and largest farming organisation received another hammer blow this week when it was revealed that outgoing Irish Farmers’ Association’s presidents received a year’s salary as “a golden handshake”. “There is massive disappointment regarding the presidents’ golden handshake. Farmers are really disappointed, more than anything else. We knew the general secretary was on big money but it turns out that it was bigger than we knew,” said Ardrahan farmer and Galway IFA chairman Pat Murphy. While revelations about the pay of former general secretary Pat Smith rocked the IFA in recent weeks, the full scale of his pay and pension contributions since 2009 were revealed at a marathon meeting of the IFA national executive on Tuesday. The new information was contained in the report and recommendations on the association’s structures and procedures and certain remuneration issues presented by former IFA chief economist and Clare-man Con Lucey. It shows that Mr Smith received more, each …

The IFA has become embroiled in another row after acting president, Tim O’Leary refuted accusations he didn’t properly address governance issues raised by former chief economist, Con Lucey. Speaking at the Clare IFA dinner dance to celebrate 60 years of one of the most powerful farming organisations in Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis on Saturday night, former IFA Munster vice president, John Slattery took a swipe at Mr O’Leary and praised “whistleblower, Derek Deane. Commenting on the circulation of Con Lucey’s letter to former president, Eddie Downey and current vice president, Tim O’Leary, Mr Slattery said in personal opinion Mr Smith was answerable to Mr Downey and Mr O’Leary as they weren’t answerable to him. “They had the responsibility to sort out what Con Lucey was talking about. Whether it was lack of courage, personal interest or whatever else, I have a difficulty that the organisation was let down in that regard. Mr Slattery expressed concern only six people supporter …