IFA President Eddie Downey has stepped back from his role of IFA President tonight, just days after its General Secretary Pat Smith resigned ahead of his pay packet being revealed.
Eddie Downey at the IFA AGM 2015
Tim O’Leary, who is stepping into Downey’s role said the association is committed to ensure the pay scandal will never occur again.
He said farm families were owed an apology and the IFA was not “strong enough”.
73% of respondents to an Agriland poll said that IFA President Eddie Downey should resign in the wake of the IFA pay scandal.
In a poll that ran over the weekend, 27% of respondents voted that the President should not resign on the back of the revelation that the salary of the former Secretary General was €535,000 in total for 2013.
The resignation of Smith came in the wake of calls from grassroot members of the IFA and one of the most senior members of the organisation to make known to its Executive Council the salary of key management personnel including that of Smith.
It was later revealed that Smith was on €535,000 in 2013 – a figure that shook farmer members of the IFA.
In a letter, written by well-known IFA figure Derek Deane to the IFA’s Executive Council, Deane said rumours of a remuneration package in excess of €400,000-a-year, had been put to him, as the possible remuneration package of the IFA’s General Secretary and he questioned that if the figure was true how the IFA could stand over this.
IFA President’s Salary Revealed
Meanwhile, the IFA has revealed that its President is paid €147,000 a year and the Deputy President is paid €35,000 a year.
According to Tim O’Leary these figures are under review.
“The remuneration package of any future IFA General Secretary will be disclosed and will be a matter of public record in the annual accounts.”
(Source – Agriland – Margaret Donnelly – 23/11/2015)
IFA president Eddie Downey (right) and former general secretary Pat Smith. Photo Jack Caffrey
Eddie Downey pay Package Is Actually Closer To €200,000
The income of IFA President Eddie Downey, which was confirmed by IFA last night, of €147,000 is also topped up with directors’ fees and expenses.
IFA confirmed today to Agriland that the €147,000 salary just comprises his salary from the IFA.
It comes in the wake of turmoil in the IFA following the shock resignation of Pat Smith and the revelations around his salary. The position of IFA President sees Eddie Downey hold a seat on the boards of a number of high profile organisations, for which he receives financial remuneration.
Eddie Downey is in receipt of:
- Directors fees from Bord Bia of €11,970; and,
- Directors fees from FBD of €40,000.
This brings the income of Eddie Downey from the role of IFA President up to €198,970.
What about his expenses?
On top of this Eddie Downey as President is also covered for vouched, out-of-pocket expenses such as petrol and meals. However, the exact expenses figures were not divulged by the IFA.
The Teagasc Director’s fee to IFA is €11,970, which the Deputy President receives.
It comes after the IFA announced that its President Eddie Downey was stepping back from his role of IFA President, just days after its General Secretary Pat Smith resigned ahead of his pay packet being revealed.
Tim O’Leary, is stepping into Downey’s role said the association is committed to ensure the pay scandal will never occur again.
He said farm families were owed an apology and the IFA was not “strong enough”.
Some 73% of respondents to an Agriland poll said that IFA President Eddie Downey should resign in the wake of the IFA pay scandal.
The resignation of Smith came in the wake of calls from grassroot members of the IFA and one of the most senior members of the organisation to make known to its Executive Council the salary of key management personnel including that of Smith.
(Source – Agriland – Margaret Donnelly – 24/11/2015)
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