Farmers protest at Bord Bia meeting in Monaghan
IFA poultry producers demand resignation of Bord Bia Chair
- Veronica Corr, in Monaghan -
A 50-strong group of egg and poultry producers from across Cavan and Monaghan, protested outside the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan this morning (Thursday) where a Bord Bia meeting was scheduled to take place.
The IFA protestors, led by Brendan Soden, National IFA Poultry Chairperson, have expressed no confidence in the Bord Bia Chairperson Larry Murrin and are demanding his resignation.
His company, Dawn Farm Foods, recently admitted to using Brazilian meat imports in their products. However, the firm said Brazilian beef made up less than one per cent of its overall supply last year.
The inclement weather reflected the mood of the producers who were standing outside the Hillgrove this morning in overcast conditions.
"We're no longer going to take part in any discussions on new requirements coming in for farmers until Larry Murrin is gone. That's the main thing today," Mr Soden told the Celt.
He said it's unfair for farmers to be expected to "follow the rules" as far as standards are concerned when Mr Murrin appears to do "whatever he likes".
The protestors point out that Brazilian beef and chicken is not subject to the same food safety standards.
Mr Soden described the whole situation as a "farce".
A spokesperson for Bord Bia, meanwhile, said that a workshop was scheduled to take place today at the hotel to discuss the progression of pilot audits in the context of avian influenza and associated biosecurity risks.
"The IFA had advised that they were unavailable to attend meetings this week for reasons unrelated to the ongoing dispute and were informed that the workshop was going ahead.
"Due to the presence of IFA members outside the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan this morning and concerns for attendees, Bord Bia cancelled the workshop," a statement read.
"Bord Bia remains committed to engaging constructively with industry stakeholders and considers the discussions planned for today to be important in supporting the sector. It is therefore disappointing that Bord Bia has been unable to carry out work, in support of the industry, because of this disruption," the spokesperson said.
Stakeholders will be contacted to reschedule the meeting.
The protest in Monaghan, meanwhile, co-incided with an ongoing, round-the-clock protest outside Bord Bia's offices in Dublin.
Farmers there chanted "out, out, out" in reference to Mr Murrin this morning.
That protest has been going on since Monday of last week.
Cavan farmers are due to lead the national protest on Saturday, February 7, from 5-11pm; while their Monaghan counterparts will take up the baton on Monday, February 9, from 11pm through to Tuesday morning, February 10, at 6am.
See next week's Celt for full coverage.