Seanad debates

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

10:30 am

Photo of Martin ConwayMartin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have no doubt that the Leader will organise such a debate at the earliest opportunity.

In reflecting on what is happening in the IFA at the moment, we must realise the importance of the IFA in terms of lobbying and ensuring that farmers get as fair a deal as possible. I consider it one of the most powerful unions in the country and I have no doubt it will overcome its present difficulties.

I do believe that transparency is appropriate at all senior management levels within the IFA and indeed in all other organisations that are in any way supported by the State or the taxpayer. There should be accountability at senior level. There is accountability here in the House because all of our salaries and expenses are published, as is the case with the other House, Ministers and the Taoiseach. In that regard, we do lead by example. I call on all organisations, be they unions, lobby groups, charities, political parties or any other organisation that is supported in any way by the taxpayer, to publish all senior management grades, salaries, remunerations, pensions benefits and so forth. If that does not happen, I will call on the Leader to request the Government to introduce legislation to ensure it does. If there is not a voluntary code of disclosure and ethics in this whole area, we will need to legislate for such a code.

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