Under pressure Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin appeared before the Oireachtas agriculture committee on Thursday to answer questions from politicians on Dawn Farm Foods’ – the company he is CEO of – importing beef from Brazil.
Murrin faced more than two hours of questioning from TDs and senators and while he gave answers to almost everything put to him, sometimes at considerable length, there was very little fresh information revealed at the meeting.
The key takeaways from the session are:
1. He's not leaving his position
Larry Murrin intends to stay on as Bord Bia chair. He defended his record and consistently said that the imports of beef from Brazil were both “small” and for “contingency” reasons.
2. He does not do ultimatums
He said that he “understands the frustration being expressed by farmers and I fully respect their right to voice concern,” adding that he does not support the behaviour of IFA members occupying Bord Bia reception in recent days.
“I don’t do ultimatums unless they come from my wife,” he declared.
3. There's no conflict of interest
Murrin, in response to a question from Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere TD, said he is “completely reconciled that there is no conflict [of interest], incompatibility or whatever” in his joint roles as Bord Bia chair and Dawn Farm Foods CEO.
Multiple farm organisations were represented at a protest at the gates of Leinster House ahead Larry Murrin's appearance at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture. \ Philip Doyle
4. He wants dialogue
Murrin said he has had “plenty of messages from farmers around the country urging him to stay put”. He again called for the issues to be “resolved through dialogue”.
5. No increase in Bord Bia audit cancellations
Murrin was joined at the committee by Bord Bia CEO Jim O’Toole; Bord Bia director of meat, food and beverages John Murray; and Bord Bia head of sustainability and Origin Green Deidre Ryan.
The only one of them to speak was O’Toole, who said that there has been no up-tick in the number of cancellations of Bord Bia audits at farm level, a measure he called a barometer for farmer sentiment towards the organisation.
Calls for his resignation
In the wake of the session, Sinn Féin again called from Murrin to “do what is best for Bord Bia and resign”.
Deputy Martin Kenny, the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “[Murrin] spent most of his time talking around the issues rather than answering questions”, adding that Murrin’s position remains untenable.
I don’t do ultimatums unless they come from my wife
That sentiment was echoed by Aontú TD Paul Lawless who said: “If the chair of Bord Bia cannot prioritise Irish beef over Brazilian imports, his position is untenable."
The ICMSA has called for a roundtable meeting that would allow movement towards a resolution, saying it is time for Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to take control of the matter.
IFA president Francie Gorman called for Heydon to sit down with the chair and explain that, in order to restore farmer confidence, a new chair is needed.
The IFA protest at the Bord Bia head office is set to continue.
Overall, there was little new revealed in Thursday's Oireachtas hearing and neither side appears to have changed their position.
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As it happened: Larry Murrin appears before Oireachtas committee
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Under pressure Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin appeared before the Oireachtas agriculture committee on Thursday to answer questions from politicians on Dawn Farm Foods’ – the company he is CEO of – importing beef from Brazil.
Murrin faced more than two hours of questioning from TDs and senators and while he gave answers to almost everything put to him, sometimes at considerable length, there was very little fresh information revealed at the meeting.
The key takeaways from the session are:
1. He's not leaving his position
Larry Murrin intends to stay on as Bord Bia chair. He defended his record and consistently said that the imports of beef from Brazil were both “small” and for “contingency” reasons.
2. He does not do ultimatums
He said that he “understands the frustration being expressed by farmers and I fully respect their right to voice concern,” adding that he does not support the behaviour of IFA members occupying Bord Bia reception in recent days.
“I don’t do ultimatums unless they come from my wife,” he declared.
3. There's no conflict of interest
Murrin, in response to a question from Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere TD, said he is “completely reconciled that there is no conflict [of interest], incompatibility or whatever” in his joint roles as Bord Bia chair and Dawn Farm Foods CEO.
Multiple farm organisations were represented at a protest at the gates of Leinster House ahead Larry Murrin's appearance at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture. \ Philip Doyle
4. He wants dialogue
Murrin said he has had “plenty of messages from farmers around the country urging him to stay put”. He again called for the issues to be “resolved through dialogue”.
5. No increase in Bord Bia audit cancellations
Murrin was joined at the committee by Bord Bia CEO Jim O’Toole; Bord Bia director of meat, food and beverages John Murray; and Bord Bia head of sustainability and Origin Green Deidre Ryan.
The only one of them to speak was O’Toole, who said that there has been no up-tick in the number of cancellations of Bord Bia audits at farm level, a measure he called a barometer for farmer sentiment towards the organisation.
Calls for his resignation
In the wake of the session, Sinn Féin again called from Murrin to “do what is best for Bord Bia and resign”.
Deputy Martin Kenny, the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “[Murrin] spent most of his time talking around the issues rather than answering questions”, adding that Murrin’s position remains untenable.
I don’t do ultimatums unless they come from my wife
That sentiment was echoed by Aontú TD Paul Lawless who said: “If the chair of Bord Bia cannot prioritise Irish beef over Brazilian imports, his position is untenable."
The ICMSA has called for a roundtable meeting that would allow movement towards a resolution, saying it is time for Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to take control of the matter.
IFA president Francie Gorman called for Heydon to sit down with the chair and explain that, in order to restore farmer confidence, a new chair is needed.
The IFA protest at the Bord Bia head office is set to continue.
Overall, there was little new revealed in Thursday's Oireachtas hearing and neither side appears to have changed their position.
Read more
As it happened: Larry Murrin appears before Oireachtas committee
Farmers entered the building under false pretences – Bord Bia
Meat factories throw support behind Larry Murrin
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