The chair of Bord Bia Larry Murrin is to remain in the role.
Murrin has faced a number of calls for his resignation in recent days after it was revealed that his company Dawn Farm Foods admitted it had imported beef from Brazil.
The news comes following a meeting of the Bord Bia board on Thursday.
Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman said he had sought Murrin’s resignation at the meeting.
“When the chair refused to resign, I made a formal proposal to the board that the chair be removed in the best interests of Bord Bia,” he said, adding that the acting chair of the meeting did not put the proposal to the meeting, noting that it was a matter for Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon. Board member Jim Woulfe, former Dairygold CEO, assumed the role of acting chair of the meeting.
“I made it clear that farmer support is critical to the functioning of Bord Bia. What has happened here has had a devastating impact on farmer confidence. If Bord Bia is to have any chance of restoring this, then the chair must be removed.
“I am conscious of my responsibilities as [a] director of Bord Bia and I absolutely believe that it is in the best interests of Bord Bia for the char to step down.
“I will now be contacting the Minister directly to convey my views,” he said.
Letter
In a letter to board members dated 19 January and seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, Murrin said Dawn Farm Foods continues to be a very strong supporter and customer of the Irish beef industry and remains committed to sourcing significant volumes of quality assured supply from Irish farmers in the years ahead.
“It is important to note also that only through the commitment to meet the required stipulations of our customers that Dawn Farm Foods has been able to maximise the opportunity for Irish meat in these accounts and markets, returning directly back to Irish farmers.
I am now, and have always been, a steadfast advocate of Irish meat and its production standards
“A direct link has been drawn between my role as chairperson of Bord Bia and the operation practices of my company and I wish to convey to you, the board, that I am now, and have always been, a steadfast advocate of Irish meat and its production standards,” he wrote in the letter.
“A successful Irish company that has been highly supportive of Bord Bia and its stakeholders and is required by its important international customers to have contingency sourcing cannot be equated to a lack of support for Irish beef farmers. Were it to be otherwise, Irish food and drink exports would never be able to reach the levels it has achieved to date,” he said.
More to follow
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Bord Bia chair in hot water over Brazilian beef imports
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Larry Murrin has engaged with Bord Bia board on imports – Minister
The chair of Bord Bia Larry Murrin is to remain in the role.
Murrin has faced a number of calls for his resignation in recent days after it was revealed that his company Dawn Farm Foods admitted it had imported beef from Brazil.
The news comes following a meeting of the Bord Bia board on Thursday.
Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman said he had sought Murrin’s resignation at the meeting.
“When the chair refused to resign, I made a formal proposal to the board that the chair be removed in the best interests of Bord Bia,” he said, adding that the acting chair of the meeting did not put the proposal to the meeting, noting that it was a matter for Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon. Board member Jim Woulfe, former Dairygold CEO, assumed the role of acting chair of the meeting.
“I made it clear that farmer support is critical to the functioning of Bord Bia. What has happened here has had a devastating impact on farmer confidence. If Bord Bia is to have any chance of restoring this, then the chair must be removed.
“I am conscious of my responsibilities as [a] director of Bord Bia and I absolutely believe that it is in the best interests of Bord Bia for the char to step down.
“I will now be contacting the Minister directly to convey my views,” he said.
Letter
In a letter to board members dated 19 January and seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, Murrin said Dawn Farm Foods continues to be a very strong supporter and customer of the Irish beef industry and remains committed to sourcing significant volumes of quality assured supply from Irish farmers in the years ahead.
“It is important to note also that only through the commitment to meet the required stipulations of our customers that Dawn Farm Foods has been able to maximise the opportunity for Irish meat in these accounts and markets, returning directly back to Irish farmers.
I am now, and have always been, a steadfast advocate of Irish meat and its production standards
“A direct link has been drawn between my role as chairperson of Bord Bia and the operation practices of my company and I wish to convey to you, the board, that I am now, and have always been, a steadfast advocate of Irish meat and its production standards,” he wrote in the letter.
“A successful Irish company that has been highly supportive of Bord Bia and its stakeholders and is required by its important international customers to have contingency sourcing cannot be equated to a lack of support for Irish beef farmers. Were it to be otherwise, Irish food and drink exports would never be able to reach the levels it has achieved to date,” he said.
More to follow
Read more
Bord Bia chair in hot water over Brazilian beef imports
Taoiseach backs Murrin amid mounting Bord Bia controversy
Larry Murrin has engaged with Bord Bia board on imports – Minister
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