The CEO of Bord Bia has said that the board of the State agency reached an outcome on Thursday to support Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia, however that support was not unanimous.
Larry Murrin is the managing director of Dawn Farm Foods and earlier this week the company admitted that it had imported Brazilian beef in 2025 and this made up 1% of its supply. The remaining 99% was made up of Irish, UK and EU beef.
Jim O’Toole said the farmer organisations represented on the board, IFA and ICMSA, did not support the chair staying in his role.
The Bord Bia boss said that there was a “full, open, and considered discussion” on the matter at board level and that all “perspectives were fully heard and carefully weighed”.
“The board unanimously commended the chairman, recognising his significant contribution to the sector and the invaluable industry experience he brings to the role.
Larry Murrin, Dawn Farm Foods.
“Today’s discussion focused on the need to protect and maintain the confidence of Irish farmers, who the board agreed are the bedrock of Bord Bia, while also recognising the critical importance of meeting the needs of customers in highly competitive global markets, which is essential to securing the long-term future of the sector,” O’Toole said.
Bord Bia reputation
O’Toole said that the board was guided by the need to protect the reputation of Bord Bia, Ireland’s agri food sector and its clients over the longer term and concluded that supporting the chairman was in the best interests of the organisation and the sector as a whole, including Irish farmers.
In response to a request from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, the Bord Bia CEO said that the agency will provide the Minister with a detailed report on the meeting and associated issues.
IFA president Francie Gorman and ICMSA president Denis Drennan have both called on Murrin to resign from his position.
When asked after the board meeting by the Irish Farmers Journal if he would consider his position on the board, IFA president Francie Gorman said: “Absolutely not at the moment. I will engage with the IFA national council and take views from them, but at this point in time, no.
"My job is to represent farmers, and we if didn’t have representation [on the board] there is a fair chance that discussion wouldn’t have taken place today."
This story was updated at 7.30pm on Thursday evening after Bord Bia issued a correction to its earlier statement following the board meeting.
Read more
Bord Bia chair in hot water over Brazilian beef imports
Taoiseach backs Murrin amid mounting Bord Bia controversy
Larry Murrin to remain as Bord Bia chair
The CEO of Bord Bia has said that the board of the State agency reached an outcome on Thursday to support Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia, however that support was not unanimous.
Larry Murrin is the managing director of Dawn Farm Foods and earlier this week the company admitted that it had imported Brazilian beef in 2025 and this made up 1% of its supply. The remaining 99% was made up of Irish, UK and EU beef.
Jim O’Toole said the farmer organisations represented on the board, IFA and ICMSA, did not support the chair staying in his role.
The Bord Bia boss said that there was a “full, open, and considered discussion” on the matter at board level and that all “perspectives were fully heard and carefully weighed”.
“The board unanimously commended the chairman, recognising his significant contribution to the sector and the invaluable industry experience he brings to the role.
Larry Murrin, Dawn Farm Foods.
“Today’s discussion focused on the need to protect and maintain the confidence of Irish farmers, who the board agreed are the bedrock of Bord Bia, while also recognising the critical importance of meeting the needs of customers in highly competitive global markets, which is essential to securing the long-term future of the sector,” O’Toole said.
Bord Bia reputation
O’Toole said that the board was guided by the need to protect the reputation of Bord Bia, Ireland’s agri food sector and its clients over the longer term and concluded that supporting the chairman was in the best interests of the organisation and the sector as a whole, including Irish farmers.
In response to a request from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, the Bord Bia CEO said that the agency will provide the Minister with a detailed report on the meeting and associated issues.
IFA president Francie Gorman and ICMSA president Denis Drennan have both called on Murrin to resign from his position.
When asked after the board meeting by the Irish Farmers Journal if he would consider his position on the board, IFA president Francie Gorman said: “Absolutely not at the moment. I will engage with the IFA national council and take views from them, but at this point in time, no.
"My job is to represent farmers, and we if didn’t have representation [on the board] there is a fair chance that discussion wouldn’t have taken place today."
This story was updated at 7.30pm on Thursday evening after Bord Bia issued a correction to its earlier statement following the board meeting.
Read more
Bord Bia chair in hot water over Brazilian beef imports
Taoiseach backs Murrin amid mounting Bord Bia controversy
Larry Murrin to remain as Bord Bia chair
SHARING OPTIONS