The leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald has written to the Taoiseach calling for the resignation of Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin.

In the letter sent to Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Wednesday morning 21 January, McDonald said Murrin cannot continue as Bord Bia chair given that his company Dawn Farm Foods imports beef from Brazil.

“I write to you concerning the very serious revelations from Dawn Farms which has confirmed the sourcing of Brazilian beef for the Irish foodservice market. Their CEO Mr Larry Murrin is chair of Bord Bia. These positions are incompatible.

ADVERTISEMENT

“His approach as CEO of Dawn Farms sits in direct conflict with Bord Bia’s role to promote Irish food, particularly Irish beef,” she stated in the letter seen by the Irish Farmers Journal.

Given the opposition to the Mercosur agreement in the country and the need for impartiality from Bord Bia leadership, the Sinn Féin leader said Murrin’s position is untenable.

“Farm organisations have rightly raised concerns, and protests are ongoing in the context of the proposed Mercosur trade deal. It is obvious that confidence in Bord Bia’s independence and leadership is essential.

“I believe that for Mr Murrin to continue to the role of chair fundamentally undermines this. The issue now requires swift action from Government, and I urge Mr Murrin to resign as chair of Bord Bia without delay,” McDonald said.

The call comes amid controversy this week over Dawn Farm Foods importing Brazilian beef to Ireland, the company of which Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin is CEO.

A meeting of the board of Bord Bia is to take place on Thursday.

‘Completely incompatible

Speaking on the letter sent to the Taoiseach, McDonald said the chair of Bord Bia is appointed by Government and “the Government must now act”.

“The credibility of Bord Bia, the integrity of Irish food promotion, consumer confidence and the livelihoods of Irish farmers must come first,” she said.

As the chair of Bord Bia is appointed by the Government, it holds a position of public trust, she added.

“That role exists to promote Irish food and drink on the international stage and to support Irish farmers and producers.

“It is completely incompatible with that responsibility for the chair of Bord Bia to be associated with the importation of Brazilian beef into the Irish market.

“This directly undermines Irish farming, damages confidence in the agri food sector and cuts across the core mission of Bord Bia itself,” she said.

The Sinn Féin leader referenced concerns across the European market around traceability, animal welfare standards and the use of growth hormones in Brazilian beef.

“These issues have rightly raised alarm among consumers, farmers and food safety authorities across Europe. Irish food has built its reputation on the highest standards of quality, safety and traceability, and that reputation must be protected,” she stated.

“At a time when Irish farmers are being asked to meet ever-higher standards, it is deeply troubling that the chair of Bord Bia would be linked to imports from a sector that has been the subject of sustained and serious concern,” she added.