Meathman takes over at helm of IFA

Tierworker native, Pat Smith, has been appointed general secretary and chief executive officer of the IFA. Mr Smith, who now lives outside Dunshaughlin, will take over leadership of the organisation, which representas almost 90,000 farmers nationwide, when outgoing general secretary, Michael Berkery, retires in March after more than 25 years in the post. Mr Smith joined the IFA in 1989 as the organisation"s farm business, taxation and environment executive, and was appointed to the senior position of director of organisation in 2000. Since then, he has seen the membership of the organisation increase by 40 per cent during a time when farm numbers have decreased by 30 per cent. He has overseen the structure of the organisation growing from 800 branches at that time to 950 today. IFA president Padraig Walshe said that Pat Smith had shown outstanding commitment and energy during his time in IFA and was well-equipped to provide the leadership required into the future. 'His exceptional record in increasing membership and strengthening the resources of IFA has been critical to the success of the organisation,' he said. Mr Smith said that he was greatly honoured to have been selected for this important role in Irish agriculture. 'I will commit all my personal skills, experience and determination to building on the outstanding contribution made by the previous general secretary, Michael Berkery, and to delivering on the association"s policy and organisational goals.' Mr Smith, who takes over as general secretary on 30th March, said the IFA"s role was to do everything in its power to improve the incomes and living standards of farm families. He stressed the importance of agriculture to Ireland, pointing out that Meath alone has 3,500 individual farmers. Mr Smith, who lives with his wife, Elizabeth, and sons, Conor, Darragh and Ronan, in Dunshaughlin, is from a farming background. A son of Chrissy and the late Paddy Smith, his brother, Dermot, is still farming in Tierworker. His wife is a native of Moynalty and is also from farming stock. Mr Smith attended secondary school in St Finian"s College, Mullingar, and spent a year at the former Warrenstown Agricultural College. He graduated with an honours degree in general agriculture from UCD in 1983 and immediately took up a technical sales and advisory position in the east of Scotland with Scottish Agricultural Industries, concentrating on tillage and drystock enterprises. Returning to Ireland in 1986, he took up an agricultural consultancy position with Farm Business Advisors in the south-east of Ireland, providing technical, financial and legal support services, mainly to dairy farmers. He qualified with an ACCA diploma in accountancy and finance in 1987.