A former president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called for the association’s executive committee to stand down.
John Donnelly from Galway served as president of the IFA from 1994 to 1998. He said when he was president he was paid "in the mid £20,000s" to cover the cost of employing someone to run his farm. Former IFA president Eddie Downey, who resigned last week, was on a package of up to €200,000.
The executive committee is comprised deputy president Tim O'Leary, national treasurer Jer Bergin and four regional chairmen James McCarthy (Munster); James Murphy (Leinster); Bert Stewart (Ulster/North); Tom Turley (Connacht).
Speaking to RTÉ, Mr Donnelly called for a postponement to the election of a new president within 60 days as he said there was too much upheaval within the organisation.
He suggested the 29 county chairmen should oversee the running of the organisation for the next six months while the 16 national committee chairs should also remain in situ during the same period.
