SOME 300 farmers turned up to see how the three candidates for the role of IFA president would field the balls fired at them and to determine their coolness under pressure. Before a full room of farmers from Laois and adjoining counties, containing rivals and supporters, the candidates made a 15-minute pitch each before facing questions from the floor.
“The difference between a soccer international and an IFA presidential election is the farmers have to be seen to be handling the ball – properly,” said a farmer leaving Monday night’s debate in Portlaoise.
The debate between John Bryan, Richard Kennedy and Derek Deane was the last major one before voting starts early next week. John Bryan, the Inistioge, Co Kilkenny, beef farmer made the first pitch, stressing his role in banning Brazilian beef from European markets following visits there to collect evidence of poor farming practices.
Dairy farmer Richard Kennedy from Ballybrown, Co Limerick, outlined his chairmanship of the organisation’s dairy committee for the past four years.
Deputy president Derek Deane of Tombeagh, Co Carlow, a beef and sheep farmer, outlined his work in the IFA and said members had the chance to elect a Carlow man to the job for the first time.
No one doubted the candidates would fight bureaucracy, multinational retailers, meat barons, farm inspections and the World Trade Organisation.
However, when the questioning began, some differences emerged. They were asked what could be done to curb the power of vets and Mr Bryan and Mr Kennedy agreed they were too powerful within the department and the private ones charged too much.
However, Mr Deane said many of them could be replaced in the meat factories and on disease eradication schemes. He also said private vets had an intense three-month period, but nine months of slack time and there were areas in the northwest with very few vets left. Then came criticism of the organisation from a grain farmer who said grain growers had been “hung out to dry” by the IFA, which was rejected by all three candidates.
The trio defended the work of the grain committee and advised those who wanted change to get involved in the organisation.
They agreed there was a future in farming and while things were tough now, the growing world population would lift product prices and create a better future. All three candidates stressed the need to produce quality food.
The earliest polls placed John Bryan well ahead in the contest, but in recent weeks, Mr Deane has been making up ground and some observers say he and Mr Bryan are running neck and neck.
The outcome, insiders say, will be determined by transfers from Richard Kennedy, the only Munster-based candidate and the only dairy farmer in the race.
Voting will take place from December 1st to 16th. the count takes place in Dublin on December 21st.