A former president of the Irish Farmers' Association has called for a referendum of the organisation's full membership to decide whether or not IFA associate membership be offered to non-farmers.
In an attack on the IFA leaderships proposal to set up "IFA Countryside" which would allow hunting, fishing, shooting and walkers have associate membership for a fee of €65 annually, Mr Joe Rea, said this would be selling a precious inheritance.
Outlining his objection to the proposal in the current edition of the Irish Farmers Journal, Mr Rea said IFA rules would be changed to offer membership to individuals or families who were living in the countryside or have an interest in agriculture and the countryside.
"As per this rule, the only requirement for IFA Countryside membership is €65 or an 'interest' - how vague a definition," he wrote. "This would mean membership for, say, supermarket magnates. Surely Margaret Heffernan of Dunnes Stores would make a wonderful member."
"It would make it possible to have direct talks on milk prices within the IFA structure. Are we in IFA losing it? What is IFA about. It is about independently protecting farm families' welfare."
He warned that the financial muscle generated by the new members who would have no votes could independently convene meetings to discuss IFA policy on fishing, shooting, walking and other country pursuits. Where will this end? What about a badger welfare campaign pressing for planning permission to remove ditches, requiring slurry spreading without smells; no more once-off rural houses?" he asked.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, he said, would be an ideal candidate for "IFA Countryside" membership and he had recently "looked down his nose at the quality of rural housing, in many cases built by the sweat and toil of farmers' sons and daughters." Mr Rea urged that the decision on what has become known as "pavilion" membership should not be decided by a small IFA core, but a national referendum of members.
"This is a precious inheritance of great value purchased at a high price over generations. Surely this inheritance should not be sold, even in those inflationary times, for 65 pieces of nickel - the individual cost of joining countryside membership," it concluded.