Tag Archives: Eddie Downey

The race has officially begun to find a successor former IFA president, Eddie Downey, who resigned recently amid the controversy over salary payments to top figures in the organisation. IFA national treasurer and returning officer (NTRO), Jer Bergin has today (Thursday) opened nominations for the position of president of the organisation. The resignation of Eddie Downey means an election for president must be held, involving the members voting in the branches. The National Rules Committee met yesterday and advised the NTRO to seek nominations for the position of president, which he has notified to county executives. The nominations must be returned by 5.30pm on Wednesday, January 6, 2016.

IFA president, Eddie Downey has called on Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe to work with the organisation to develop a voluntary package of measures that facilitates the development of proposed Greenway projects, while protecting farmers’ rights. He said, “The Government plans to develop over 330km of Greenway tracks across the country over the next number of years. These projects have the potential to attract tourists and economic development to many rural areas.” However, Mr Downey said they will also significantly impact on farmers and may in some instances divide farm holdings. “This is leading to landowners firmly opposing the use of CPOs, which may have a negative impact on the long-term success of the Greenways initiative. Therefore, it is essential that a robust package of measures is put in place which recognises the inconvenience, severance and injurious affection caused and goodwill required.” The IFA leader has also called on local authorities to engage in this process with the Department of Transport …

An IFA delegation, led by President Eddie Downey and Clare chairman, Andrew Dundas, met with the Minister of State for the OPW, Simon Harris on Wednesday  to press for the repair of embankments damaged in the severe storms of early 2014. IFA has secured a commitment from Minister Harris that he will move this issue on over the coming weeks so that the necessary works can commence. Eddie Downey told the minister that farmers’ lands have been damaged and that the repairs of embankments are necessary to get the land back into production. The delegation told the minister that delays are intolerable and it is not acceptable that there is nobody making a firm decision on the issue. The OPW should take responsibility to ensure that farmers and properties are protected and should instruct Clare County Council that support will be forthcoming through the various schemes under the OPW’s control. Clare IFA chairman, Andrew Dundas said there is huge frustration …

IFA president, Eddie Downey has called on Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe to work with his organisation to develop a voluntary package of measures that facilitates the development of proposed Greenway projects, while protecting farmers’ rights. He said, “The Government plans to develop over 330km of Greenway tracks across the country over the next number of years.These projects have the potential to attract tourists and economic development to many rural areas”. However, the IFA president said they will also significantly impact on farmers and may in some instances divide farm holdings. “This is leading to landowners firmly opposing the use of CPOs, which may have a negative impact on the long-term success of the greenways initiative. Therefore it is essential that a robust package of measures is put in place which recognises the inconvenience, severance and injurious affection caused and goodwill required.” Mr Downey has also called on local authorities to engage in this process with the Department of Transport and …

Over 600,000 texts alerting people to potential criminal activity in their local area have been sent to individuals and communities across the country during the first year of the crime prevention Text Alert system. Text Alert now has over 450 Text Alert groups in towns and villages throughout the country with more than 80,000 people signing-up to the scheme, launched a year ago this week. A joint initiative of An Garda Síochána, Muintir na Tíre, Neighbourhood Watch and the Irish Farmers Association, Text Alert enables communities to set up a group to receive alerts advising them of suspicious or criminal activity in their area. As well as ensuring awareness among users of the service, it can also lead to them reporting suspicious activity to gardaí. “We have found that as an immediate, cost effective method of engagement with the communities we serve, the Text Alert system has proved to be invaluable. We will continue to ensure that the system is …

The IFA, in association with Treemetrics, has launched a new forest assessor service for farm forestry members. At the launch, IFA president, Eddie Downey said  forest assessor was another service that would benefit private forest owners by providing more knowledge about their crop and, ultimately, providing a better opportunity for farmers to realise the full potential for their timber. IFA Farm Forestry chairman, Michael Fleming noted that it utilised the most up-to-date technology to accurately predict the quantities of log products that each tree can produce and their potential value. “Using this technology, members will be provided with a more accurate and independent forest management system, helping to capture more value from the forest resource,” he added. Forest assessor will be rolled out nationally with demonstration events being organised for the coming weeks. For information about how to book this service, details are at www.ifa.ie/sectors/forestry.

More than 30 Munster IFA livestock farmers staged a tractor protest outside the Aldi supermarket in Mitchelstown, County Cork earlier this Monday. At the protest, IFA president, Eddie Downey said livestock farmers are stepping up their campaign against the price and specification cuts imposed by retailers and factories. He said farmers feel betrayed by the unacceptable behaviour and lack of corporate responsibility on the part of the powerful retailers and meat factories to their farmer suppliers. Mr Downey warned all of the major retailers, including SuperValu, Dunnes, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl, and the factories that the anger and frustration of farmers is at boiling point and the unjustified price and specification cuts, which are severely damaging farmers and the Irish beef sector, must be reversed. “With beef prices in our main markets in the UK and across the EU stable and recovering, the current attack on prices led by the factories cannot be justified,” he said. The president pointed out …