A long-running dispute within the aid agency Selp Help Development International has been resolved with the appointment of a new chief executive and a decision by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) to re-endorse the organisation as its favoured Third World charity.
The IFA executive council yesterday decided to re-establish formal links with the aid agency, which were broken last year in an internal dispute over structures.
This followed a presentation to the farmers' group by Self Help's newly-appointed chief executive, Ray Jordan, together with its chairman, Tom Corcoran, and board member Joe Dwyer.
Mr Jordan said Self Help would be applying within weeks for five-year funding from the Government's development arm, Irish Aid. Last year, the aid agency was threatened with the suspension of funds by Irish Aid because of rows within the organisation.
However, now that these difficulties have been sorted out, it is expected State funding will once again be made available.
Mr Jordan said Self Help, which specialises in farmer-to-farmer aid in impoverished African countries, looked forward to "re-engaging" with the Irish agricultural community.
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