In 18 months the IFA will have a new leader and recent developments indicate a new style too. For over a week, farmers protesting at the phasing out of headage payments have been occupying the EU Dublin headquarters in Dawson St. Despite some 30 stalwarts sitting in round the clock there has been little disruption, in that the top men Peter Doyle and Philip Ryan access their upstairs quarters by different doors. The thing is that the sit-in is being led by deputy president John Dillon, tipped to take over as president from Tom Parlon. The IFA, which won some public support during the "pickade" of meat plants in January, is now tearing its hair out over what is being described as "the farmers' revenge" on headquarters in Bluebell, Dublin.
Dillon, an outspoken Limerick man, who never has been and never can be the media soundbite type of leader headquarters would like, is hell bent on getting the big job. He is loved so much by ordinary farmers that no one in their right mind in the IFA would oppose him. Bluebell is desperately trying to nurture a sophisticated, urbane, media-friendly type of farmer to sell its message and so far has failed to come up with anyone. Dillon, who takes orders from no one, believes in direct action and has impaled his organisation on the wrath of Agricultural Commissioner Franz Fischler who is known to be very angry over the occupation of his Dublin office.
Many opportunities to leave the building with some kind of dignity were rejected by Dillon and one by one, those who might challenge him have been eclipsed. Padraig Walshe, a former president of Macra na Feirme, was there for the start of the sit-in but has kept a low profile since.