Dairy Committee
Tom Phelan
Laois dairy and beef farmer Tom Phelan is the Chairman of the IFA National Dairy Committee.
Tom Phelan farms with his wife Caroline and children Martin, Karen and Marie-Thérèse in Pike of Rushall, near Mountrath in Co. Laois, and supplies creamery milk to Glanbia.
Tom has a strong track record of farmer representation. He has chaired his local Glanbia area and regional committees, was Macra na Feirme Laois Co. Chairman and has also had significant experience within IFA, serving as Dairy, Farm Business and County Chairman in Co. Laois. He has also been representing the National Dairy Committee on the IFA Animal Health Project Team.
Paul is married to Carol and they have two sons and a daughter.
Aine O’Connell
Aine O’Connell has a PhD in Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin. Her research was focused on bulk tank milk quality. Since then she has worked in farm advisory and policy. A native of Tipperary, she now farms with her husband in Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
About the Dairy Committee
- The National Dairy Committee represents Ireland’s 17,000 creamery milk producers
- Its members are elected by IFA’s 29 county executives
- Its most important issues include milk prices, economic sustainability of dairy farmers, retention of the Nitrates derogation and CAP reform.
Dairy Committee
| GROUP | NAME | MOBILE |
| CHAIRMAN | Thomas Phelan | 0872268837 |
| VICE-CHAIRMAN | Stephen Arthur | 0863497081 |
| CARLOW | Jamie Kealy | 0879230619 |
| CAVAN | Seamus Dolan | 0872938562 |
| CLARE | Andrew Dundas | 0868293012 |
| CORK (W) | Ger Lehane | 0868203236 |
| CORK (C) | Alan Jagoe | 0879641383 |
| CORK (N) | Mary Twomey-Casey | 0872275223 |
| DONEGAL | PJ McMonagle | 086-8113717 |
| DUBLIN | ||
| GALWAY | Noel Murphy | 087-2366771 |
| KERRY | Michael O’Dowd | 087-9874082 |
| KILDARE | Billy Barrett | 087-2708061 |
| KILKENNY | Brendan Hickey | 086-6061029 |
| LAOIS | James Barber | 087-7553409 |
| LEITRIM | Daniel Kelly | 085-8051240 |
| LIMERICK | John Hannon | 086-8042222 |
| LONGFORD | Patrick O’Neill | 086-3357379 |
| LOUTH | ||
| MAYO | Michael Leo Morrin | 087-6272322 |
| MEATH | Eddie Bannon | 086-6065668 |
| MONAGHAN | James F. O’Connor | 086-8366866 |
| OFFALY | Adrian Leonard | 087-6659015 |
| ROSCOMMON | Sean Connaughton | 086-8567275 |
| SLIGO | Padraig Mulligan | 087-9910879 |
| TIPP NTH | Michael Kennedy | 086-2724246 |
| TIPP.STH | Pat Carroll | 086-2633514 |
| WATERFORD | Mark Connors | 086-3866426 |
| WESTMEATH | Enda Burke | 086-3409525 |
| WEXFORD | M.J. Scallan | 086-2230141 |
| WICKLOW | Stephen Arthur | 086-3497081 |
| LIQUID MILK CHAIRMAN | Keith Boyle | 087-6178147 |
| Co-opted | Pat Murphy |