ACA Council Meeting
Maldron Hotel, Portlaoise.
February 4th 2013
Opening
Mike Brady opened the meeting and thanked all for attending. The minutes of the previous meeting was taken as read,
Actions from last Meeting
John Byrne will take over from Breian on Health and Safety. Tom Dawson will take over in relation to skillnets funding.
Regional Meetings Update and Reports.
Positive, good debate, feedback and turnout.
Nitrates Training: John Byrne said that 72 attended. The derogation forms are online. Jack Nolan gave a presentation.
The regional co-ordinators are to discuss what has come up at the regional meetings,
what is the priority and have a national event.
An article to be done up for papers on Nitrates legal requirements.This should be sent to every member and get it into the local papers.
UCD Careers Day 2013.
Mock interviews on the 18th of Feb. Careers day the next day. ACA will attend.
Membership renewal options/needs
Receipt marked paid for direct debits is sent out in January each year for the previous year.
A modified fee structure has been decided by Council.
Full Members and Directors of Companies €750.00
Associate Member €520.00
Second and subsequent Associates in a firm €400.00
Senior Member (Over 70) €250.00
Senior Associate Member (over 70) €140
For payment by Direct Debit, a deduction of €50.00 per member.
IFJ-Planning for Profit
Mike Bady had a meeting with Peter Young and Ulster bank. The aims, increasing awareness, benchmarking of farms. Standard form for the banks. Education and training, access to websites and books.
We must find out from Peter Young what the cost will be.
CCFAS
No progress made and Mark McConnell is to follow up.
DAFM Appeals Conference/Trainning/ CPD
On the 22-2-13 Appeals conference, Venue in Tullamore.
Ist, half-SFP, Mapping. 2nd half-Appeals
Aisling Meehan confirmed attendance
Registered Agricultural Consultant action.
Martin O’Sullivan explained his report. Questions in relation to who will be the registering body and should the ACA assume authority ?. The department may be reluctant to make it solely to ACA. PI would be essential to membership We need the Department to recognise the RAC. There has to be relevant CPD. It was felt that the
Dept would be in favour of the idea of the RAC. We could not to limit to ACA members and it has to be structured and presented to the Dept. .
We need to tighten up on the membership and police CPD. PI is a big issue for the Department as they are afraid of a claim themselves.
Draft final proposals to be prepared in advance of next meeting.
Computerisation packages- BTAB Teagasc meeting and training.
The profit monitoring developed by Michael Tennyson was not as comprehensive as the Teagasc one and John Carty wants to go with the Teagasc one.
Mike Brady is trying to organise a meeting with Gerry Boyle, Teagasc, and he will try and get John Carty to put pressure on Teagasc. We need to do this immediately.
In relation to BTAP, it was stated that it has come to attention that a facilitator ran meetings on a Sunday and all in the one week. If it is a member we will have to consider it very seriously and deal with it. Quality is an issue for BTAP.
UK Consultants Meeting
Deferred to the next meeting
AGM
Laura Johnston is to help Mike Brady to organise the AGM
Mike Brady asked what speakers should be invited and it was decided to ask Paud Evans/Michael Tracy to discuss Cap reform.
It was agreed that Mike Brady and Laura Johnston would put a package together
Michael O’Sullivan to confirm the hotel booking.
AOB
The rates of VAT members were charging was discussed. Martin O’Sullivan stated that the wording on the invoice is very important. Farm planning advice is charged at a rate of 13.5%/ Training and education charged at 0% vat.
Mark Mc Connell
26/02/2013.