Councillors want Murrin out

Calls for the removal of Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin intensified with Cavan County Council becoming the sixteenth local authority to demand he steps down- while sharp criticism was also levelled at Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon over his handling of the controversy.

Two separate motions were tabled - one by the Sinn Féin group and another by Fine Gael councillor TP O’Reilly - at the council’s March meeting backing the move.

Beforehand, councillors met with local IFA members, some of whom had taken part in a sit-in protest at Bord Bia’s HQ. The protest called for the removal of Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia after it emerged his company, Dawn Farm Foods used imported beef and poultry in its products. Dawn Farm Foods have said the company sourced less than one per cent of its beef from Brazil last year.

IFA only ended the protest after Bord Bia’s board agreed to an independent expert-led governance review, due to be completed by April 30. However, Mr Murrin remains chair of the State-funded body.

Cllr Damien Brady (SF)warned the issue has triggered deep anger across the farming community as many farming organisations see the issue as a serious conflict of interest. He argued that Mr Murrin is responsible for enforcing strict policies on Irish beef producers while also using beef produced to an alleged inferior standard from a competing market.

It has led to a “level of anger” not seen for “many, many years”, observed Cllr Brady.

“The Minister for Agriculture is ignoring the concerns of farmers and allowing double standards to go unchallenged,” claimed Cllr Brady.

Cllr TP O’Reilly (FG) warned the controversy had raised serious questions about the “credibility and governance” at Bord Bia and alleged the recent actions by Mr Murrin had “undermined” its reputation. Some farmers also fear that even if Mr Murrin were removed he could simply be replaced “by another Larry Murrin”, Cllr O’Reilly said, arguing there “needs to be major change” within Bord Bia.

“The consumer needs to have confidence and I believe the consumer has confidence in the farmer,” he said, praising the actions of the IFA members who staged the protest.

Cllr Áine Smith (FF) meanwhile praised the role of newly appointed Farmers’ Journal editor and Ballyconnell farmer Adam Woods in highlighting food chain traceability concerns in Brazil. She urged that a resolution be found to the current impasse.

Cllr Stiofán Conaty (SF) echoed that sentiment, stating farmers were “fighting this battle not just for themselves but for us” as consumers. He added he “can’t understand” Minister Heydon’s position, saying the minister had “lost the confidence of the farming community” as a result.

Cllr Noel Connell (SF) claimed Mr Murrin’s company was “caught red handed”, while Cllr Winston Bennett (FG) backed calls for the Bord Bia chair to step aside immediately.

Cllr Shane P O’Reilly (II) noted it was ultimately up to the minister to remove him from the position.

Councillors agreed to write to Bord Bia and Minister Heydon outlining supporting calls for Mr Murrin’s removal.