Speaking to the
Farming Independent Eoin Donnelly, a leading figure on the side of the association that is organising the AGM, confirmed the move which is also supported by the two Beef Plan Movement representatives that sit on the Beef Market Taskforce, Dermot O’Brien and Enda Fingleton.
Mr Donnelly said: “At the AGM - which will be held on Saturday, May 15 – we will hold a vote regarding a permanent rebrand of ‘Beef Plan Movement’.
“We will be putting it to members to ask them whether they want the name ‘Beef Plan Movement’ to be retired and that we would rebrand accordingly.
The Beef Plan Movement protest outside the Dáil in 2019. / Philip Doyle
One side of the divided Beef Plan Movement plans to hold an inaugural AGM for the association on Saturday 15 May 2021, 14 months after it was first postponed.
The side which includes removed directors of the Beef Plan Movement company limited by guarantee (CLG) Alan O’Brien and Enda Fingleton, and Beef Market Taskforce representative Dermot O’Brien, has chosen to move ahead with the AGM after mediation talks failed.
Notice of the meeting was issued by Patrick Rooney under the title of Beef Plan chair. It will be open to all farmers who consider themselves members of the association as its membership list is “incomplete”.
Farming Independent:
“My belief is that it is a witch-hunt. I haven’t seen any grounds for an issue or any evidence produced of any wrongdoing. This has hampered the movement and is not doing beef farmers’ cause any good.
“Huge sacrifices have been made by members of the organisation where travel expenses and time off work were not claimed. The vast majority of work was voluntary and the vast majority of money was put to good use.”
Mr Corley said an agreement was reached to allow for an independent audit of the organisation’s 2019 books to take place but he added that “it was never followed up by Mr O’Brien or Mr Fingleton”.
January 19, 2021 4:40 pm
Members of the Beef Plan Movement have said that they plan to hold an ‘inaugural AGM’ on Saturday, May 15.
A communication to members says that Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has been invited to speak, though he is yet to respond to the invitation.
In terms of the Beef Plan Movement dispute, this plan for an AGM is proposed by the camp that includes Beef Plan’s representatives on the Beef Market Taskforce, Dermot O’Brien and Enda Fingleton; as well as Eoin Donnelly and ‘removed’ company director Alan O’Brien.
The communication on the proposed AGM says: “The planned date for the association’s inaugural AGM in March 2020 was postponed as part of a mediation process that was entered into to try and resolve some internal issues within the association.