It seems there was irritation at the Bord Bia and Department of Agriculture annual briefing for livestock exporters last week.

My ears pricked up when I heard reports of ICSA president Paddy Kent making a lengthy speech criticising the organisers for the state of beef farming.

Clearly exporters saw this as a hijacking of what is their biggest opportunity of the year to confer with Bord Bia and the Department.

Exporter Kevin Quinn stood up and pointed out that the event was a briefing for exporters and that he wasn’t happy that a farm organisation would use it to make political points.

He thanked Bord Bia, and specifically Joe Burke, for organising the briefing and for its efforts on behalf of exporters.