Questions over IFA governance before Smith’s move to resign

Economist Con Lucey raised concerns as he resigned chair of audit committee

Pat Smith, former IFA general secretary Finbarr O'Rourke

Corporate governance procedures within the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) were highlighted 15 months prior to the resignation of the IFA general secretary Pat Smith.

Concerns about internal IFA governance practices and remuneration policy were raised in August 2014 by Con Lucey when he resigned as chairman of the IFA audit committee.

Lucey was a highly regarded chief economist of the farming organisation for 29 years and was appointed to chair the new oversight ...