Five Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) members remain inside the doors of Bord Bia headquarters on Pembroke Road as part of what they have described as a peaceful sit-in movement.
It was day nine of the sit-in for Pat McCormick, Teresa Roche, Tom Byrne, Christine Friel and Richard Moeran, who were still in situ in Ballsbridge as the Irish Farmers Journal went to print on Wednesday. Donegal farmer Adrian Gallagher exited the building on Tuesday after seven days inside the Bord Bia offices.
IFA members from branches across the country continue to occupy the area outside the building, with Wednesday marking day 17 of the IFA’s protest.
IFA farm family chair Teresa Roche said that despite restricted access to food and power inside headquarters, they are healthy, fit and mentally strong.
“We will be here until Larry Murrin is removed as chair of Bord Bia,” the Galway dairy farmer claimed on Wednesday.
“We have heat, we have some food – albeit only allowed in at 10am and 5pm. We’ll gladly stay for as long as it takes. “There is a serious disconnect between corporate Bord Bia and the farmer on the ground. Our purpose here is to represent the farmer and the high standards they continuously meet.
“We’ve respected all the staff and maintained the facility to the highest standard. There are some very good people within Bord Bia – their health and safety officer is in constant communication with us,” she said.
Wicklow farmer and diabetic Tom Byrne told the Irish Farmers Journal: “We went 36 hours without any food supply. I was escorted down to a room on my own to eat something during this time. I was made finish what I got in front of a security guard – in case I’d bring it back to the rest of them,” he claimed. A Bord Bia spokesperson said farmers are getting food twice a day and other supplies, such as clothing, are also allowed in.
The building is closed for work and is “in shutdown mode”, with 140 Dublin-based staff working from home. The disruption is impacting on the ability of Bord Bia to deliver on its remit, the spokesperson said. At the request of protestors on Monday evening, Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia’s CEO met with them outside Bord Bia’s headquarters for an exchange of views. However, the impasse continues.
IFA north Tipperary members (L–R) Denis Armstrong, Philip Kinane, Liam Coffey, Robert Mooney, Joe O’Dwyer, Pat Hogan, Matthew Mounsey, Terras Keane and Declan O’Meara pictured outside the Bord Bia building as part of the ongoing protest. \ Claire Nash
Five Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) members remain inside the doors of Bord Bia headquarters on Pembroke Road as part of what they have described as a peaceful sit-in movement.
It was day nine of the sit-in for Pat McCormick, Teresa Roche, Tom Byrne, Christine Friel and Richard Moeran, who were still in situ in Ballsbridge as the Irish Farmers Journal went to print on Wednesday. Donegal farmer Adrian Gallagher exited the building on Tuesday after seven days inside the Bord Bia offices.
IFA members from branches across the country continue to occupy the area outside the building, with Wednesday marking day 17 of the IFA’s protest.
IFA farm family chair Teresa Roche said that despite restricted access to food and power inside headquarters, they are healthy, fit and mentally strong.
“We will be here until Larry Murrin is removed as chair of Bord Bia,” the Galway dairy farmer claimed on Wednesday.
“We have heat, we have some food – albeit only allowed in at 10am and 5pm. We’ll gladly stay for as long as it takes. “There is a serious disconnect between corporate Bord Bia and the farmer on the ground. Our purpose here is to represent the farmer and the high standards they continuously meet.
“We’ve respected all the staff and maintained the facility to the highest standard. There are some very good people within Bord Bia – their health and safety officer is in constant communication with us,” she said.
Wicklow farmer and diabetic Tom Byrne told the Irish Farmers Journal: “We went 36 hours without any food supply. I was escorted down to a room on my own to eat something during this time. I was made finish what I got in front of a security guard – in case I’d bring it back to the rest of them,” he claimed. A Bord Bia spokesperson said farmers are getting food twice a day and other supplies, such as clothing, are also allowed in.
The building is closed for work and is “in shutdown mode”, with 140 Dublin-based staff working from home. The disruption is impacting on the ability of Bord Bia to deliver on its remit, the spokesperson said. At the request of protestors on Monday evening, Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia’s CEO met with them outside Bord Bia’s headquarters for an exchange of views. However, the impasse continues.
IFA north Tipperary members (L–R) Denis Armstrong, Philip Kinane, Liam Coffey, Robert Mooney, Joe O’Dwyer, Pat Hogan, Matthew Mounsey, Terras Keane and Declan O’Meara pictured outside the Bord Bia building as part of the ongoing protest. \ Claire Nash
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