The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has accused unnamed Government figures of peddling “spin” to media outlets on details surrounding controversy around Bord Bia’s chair Larry Murrin as the row between farming organisations and Bord Bia looks set to rumble into its second week.
The controversy centres around Bord Bia’s chair Larry Murrin – who is managing director of Dawn Farm Foods – after it was confirmed that some of his company’s beef supplies were sourced from Brazil in 2025.
Dawn Farm Foods maintains that 1% of the beef it supplied in 2025 was Brazilian, with the remainder made of Irish, EU and UK supplies.
IFA president Francie Gorman said on Sunday that the association had been contacted by numerous media outlets over the weekend, which had claimed they were briefed by anonymous Government sources on aspects of the controversy.
Accusations of spin
Gorman said that he accepted that Murrin had offered to brief the IFA on his company’s importation of Brazilian beef on Thursday, but suggested that the IFA’s anger does not concern the volumes or dates concerned.
The IFA’s issue is the importation of any Brazilian beef by a company whose managing director is chair of Bord Bia, Gorman explained.
“I did not take up this offer, on the grounds that it would only inflame matters,” the IFA president said.
“The fact is he has confirmed that his company is using Brazilian beef. This is the issue farmers have - not the reasons for it, or where or when, or how much.”
Calls for Murrin to go public
Gorman said that Murrins “could have called a public farmer meeting at any stage last week to explain his position”.
He suggested that he wrote twice to Bord Bia seeking a meeting of its board before Thursdays’ meeting was convened.
Bord Bia said that a meeting on Thursday had resulted in the board supporting Murrin staying on as chair, but that the IFA and Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) had not expressed support.
The IFA said that both farm groups had sought to formally move a proposal before the board seeking the removal of Murrin, but that this proposal was not moved by the acting chair, who claimed the issue was one that concerned the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.
“They can still call a public meeting this week and the Minister and the other board members could attend,” the IFA leader said.
“The reality is that Bord Bia have had to call off their planned meetings with farmers scheduled for tomorrow and Tuesday because of this issue.
“The reality is that they have gone into hiding and hoping this will pass.”
Gorman also outlined in his remarks that he has no intention to resign from Bord Bia’s board.
“I’m very clear that the position I have adopted is in the best interests of Bord Bia and Irish farmers,” he said.
“I will be staying on the board and continuing to seek the removal of the chair.”
Where matters stand
Two meetings of Bord Bia’s technical advisory committee - on which farming organisations sit - have been cancelled for the coming week.
The cancellations came in the face of farm groups’ plans to protest outside these meetings.
Sinn Féin’s agriculture spokesperson Martin Kenny TD has been among those who have made calls for Minister Heydon to intervene and remove Murrin from his Bord Bia position.
“Martin Heydon has the power to put an end to this controversy and restore public confidence in Bord Bia,” Deputy Kenny said on Saturday.
“I am calling on the Minister to remove Larry Murrin from his position as chairperson of Bord Bia immediately and prevent further damage to the organisation.”
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The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has accused unnamed Government figures of peddling “spin” to media outlets on details surrounding controversy around Bord Bia’s chair Larry Murrin as the row between farming organisations and Bord Bia looks set to rumble into its second week.
The controversy centres around Bord Bia’s chair Larry Murrin – who is managing director of Dawn Farm Foods – after it was confirmed that some of his company’s beef supplies were sourced from Brazil in 2025.
Dawn Farm Foods maintains that 1% of the beef it supplied in 2025 was Brazilian, with the remainder made of Irish, EU and UK supplies.
IFA president Francie Gorman said on Sunday that the association had been contacted by numerous media outlets over the weekend, which had claimed they were briefed by anonymous Government sources on aspects of the controversy.
Accusations of spin
Gorman said that he accepted that Murrin had offered to brief the IFA on his company’s importation of Brazilian beef on Thursday, but suggested that the IFA’s anger does not concern the volumes or dates concerned.
The IFA’s issue is the importation of any Brazilian beef by a company whose managing director is chair of Bord Bia, Gorman explained.
“I did not take up this offer, on the grounds that it would only inflame matters,” the IFA president said.
“The fact is he has confirmed that his company is using Brazilian beef. This is the issue farmers have - not the reasons for it, or where or when, or how much.”
Calls for Murrin to go public
Gorman said that Murrins “could have called a public farmer meeting at any stage last week to explain his position”.
He suggested that he wrote twice to Bord Bia seeking a meeting of its board before Thursdays’ meeting was convened.
Bord Bia said that a meeting on Thursday had resulted in the board supporting Murrin staying on as chair, but that the IFA and Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) had not expressed support.
The IFA said that both farm groups had sought to formally move a proposal before the board seeking the removal of Murrin, but that this proposal was not moved by the acting chair, who claimed the issue was one that concerned the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.
“They can still call a public meeting this week and the Minister and the other board members could attend,” the IFA leader said.
“The reality is that Bord Bia have had to call off their planned meetings with farmers scheduled for tomorrow and Tuesday because of this issue.
“The reality is that they have gone into hiding and hoping this will pass.”
Gorman also outlined in his remarks that he has no intention to resign from Bord Bia’s board.
“I’m very clear that the position I have adopted is in the best interests of Bord Bia and Irish farmers,” he said.
“I will be staying on the board and continuing to seek the removal of the chair.”
Where matters stand
Two meetings of Bord Bia’s technical advisory committee - on which farming organisations sit - have been cancelled for the coming week.
The cancellations came in the face of farm groups’ plans to protest outside these meetings.
Sinn Féin’s agriculture spokesperson Martin Kenny TD has been among those who have made calls for Minister Heydon to intervene and remove Murrin from his Bord Bia position.
“Martin Heydon has the power to put an end to this controversy and restore public confidence in Bord Bia,” Deputy Kenny said on Saturday.
“I am calling on the Minister to remove Larry Murrin from his position as chairperson of Bord Bia immediately and prevent further damage to the organisation.”
Read more
Bord Bia meetings cancelled next week as Murrin controversy continues
IFA and ICMSA seek resignation of Bord Bia chair
Updated: support for Murrin as chair not unanimous – Bord Bia CEO
Larry Murrin to remain as Bord Bia chair
Bord Bia: who are its 14 board members?
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