IFA increases pay for director general, president, deputy president

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has extended the contract of its director general indefinitely, and increased his salary to more than €215,000.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the IFA said in line with current employment regulations, the contract extension of its director general Damian McDonald is of “indefinite duration”, with a clause agreed to end the contract, should it be required.

Furthermore, the organisation's remuneration committee reviewed the salary of the position, and decided to increase Mr McDonald's salary to €215,998, in line with the pay scale for the secretary general of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Mr McDonald took up the role in 2016 on a salary of €185,000.

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The committee also reviewed the salaries of the positions of president and deputy president, which will increase to €140,000 and €40,000, respectively.

These salaries have remained the same since 2016, the IFA statement said, at €120,000 and €35,000.

The association faced controversy in 2015 when it emerged its former general secretary Pat Smith received a salary package totalling €445,000 in 2014 and €535,000 in 2013.

In 2013, his remuneration involved a basic salary of €295,000, a €150,000 pension contribution, a €60,000 bonus and a €30,000 director’s fee from IFA Telecom.

Mr Smith resigned from the position when the revelations around the pay emerged. The association's then-president Eddie Downey followed him out of the organisation after it emerged he signed off on a € 2 million severance package for Mr Smith.

Remuneration in the association was reviewed following their departure.

The IFA's former economist Con Lucey presented a report on pay and pensions to the organisation, with almost 50 recommendations.

The association has detailed the salary paid to its senior officials since then.