IFA calls for Bord Bia board chairman to be replaced

The protest follows confirmation last week that Dawn Farm Foods, the company co-founded and managed by Murrin, sources some beef from Brazil for use in certain meat products.

Farming organisations including the IFA and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), argue this represents a conflict of interest given Bord Bia’s role in promoting Irish food and have called for Murrin to step down.

An emergency meeting of the Bord Bia board was carried out on Thursday 22 at the request of IFA president Francie Gorman, who is also a board member.

Following discussions, the board decided to support Murrin remaining in the role. Agriculture minister Martin Heydon has also said Murrin has his 'full confidence'.

Speaking on RTÉ, Heydon said many Irish food companies require 'twin production capacity' to operate in international markets, noting that Ireland exports around 90% of its food and drink.

He added that no Irish company could realistically secure international contracts while sourcing all of its meat from a single region.

A senior Government source said it was reiterating a call for the IFA to engage with Murrin, who has offered to meet county chairpersons to outline the full facts of the situation.

The source described the protest as disappointing, underlining Government support for farmers on issues including the renewal of the Nitrates Derogation and opposition to Mercosur, and warned public patience could wear thin.

Gorman said the IFA had staged the protest to underline its demand that Murrin step down as chairman.

“We need to put a new chairman in place, get down to discussing the issues that were discussed last week at the board meeting, including the chairman's position, and by doing so we’ll restore the credibility of Bord Bia,” he said.

“The longer this goes on the worse it’s going to be for Bord Bia and the wider industry.”

He rejected suggestions of compromise, stating: “To be clear, the chairman has to go and the sooner the better.”

Gorman added that he declined an offer to meet Murrin, arguing it would only inflame matters.

“The fact is he has confirmed that his company is using Brazilian beef. This is the issue farmers have - not the reasons for it, or where or when, or how much,” he said.

The ICMSA, an organisation which supports Irish dairy farmers, said its position on seeking Murrin’s removal remains unchanged but urged all sides to begin resolving the stalemate.

ICMSA president Denis Drennan called on Minister Heydon to arrange urgent talks between farm organisations and Bord Bia, particularly in light of wider pressures on the sector, including the recent bluetongue outbreak.

In a statement following the board meeting, Bord Bia chief executive Jim O’Toole said the board had reached its decision after 'a full, open and considered discussion'.

While not unanimous, he said the board recognised Murrin’s significant contribution and industry experience, and concluded that supporting him was in the best interests of Bord Bia, Irish farmers and the wider agri-food sector.

Bord Bia is preparing a detailed report on the matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.