The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has proposed a seven-point review process to Bord Bia which, if agreed to, could provide a resolution to the ongoing row over the position of embattled board chair Larry Murrin.
In a letter seen by the Irish Farmers Journal that was sent from IFA president Francie Gorman to all members of the board of Bord Bia on Thursday, he outlines the conditions that need to be met for IFA to stand down its protest at Bord Bia.
The seven conditions detailed in the letter to be part of the review process are:
1. Board membership eligibility
In conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a list of minimum eligibility requirements would be agreed for future appointments to the Bord Bia board and for the position of chair of the board.
2. Board governance and terms of reference
The governance structure and terms of reference for the board will be reviewed with a specific focus on ensuring that they are fit-for-purpose and to clarify the role of the chair and the board. Consideration will also be given to what constitutes a conflict of interest or a perceived conflict of interest as set in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
Tom Byrne of Co Wicklow is one of the five protesters that remain inside Bord Bia. \ Claire Nash
3. Farmer Quality Assurance (QA) schemes and inspection process
Review of audit and inspection processes including review of the purpose of the sustainability survey. This strand would also review the new proposed risk-based audit approach including firm commitments on reduction in audit inspection times as previously sought by IFA.
4. Non-farmer certified QA schemes/standards
Farmer representation would be included on the technical advisory committees (TACs) for agreeing non-farmer QA schemes/standards, particularly given that processors currently have representation on farmer QA scheme TACs.
5. Origin Green
The criteria for eligibility for Origin Green will be reviewed. This would then be overseen by a TAC including farmers, processors, retail and food service businesses.
6. Bord Bia online accreditations
A full review would take place of all Bord Bia websites to ensure that that all listed accreditations are fully up to date.
7. Bord Bia QA scheme overreach
Farmers originally participated in Bord Bia QA schemes based on the understanding that these schemes will ensure their produce gains improved market access and is differentiated in the marketplace. However, Bord Bia QA schemes are now becoming a requirement of other schemes such as the CAP Suckler Cow Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH). Accordingly, a full review of the use of QA schemes for non-market related schemes would be undertaken. This would also include the need for the capture of information not required for marketing purposes being part of the audit process.
Review structure
The IFA has said that the review process would be structured.
“This would see all strands of the review process will take place under the auspices of a three-person sub-committee of the board with membership to be pre-agreed by the board.
Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin. \ Claire Nash
“The terms of reference for each strand of the review process will be proposed by this sub-committee before being brought to the board for approval on a consensus basis; ie all board members to agree,” the IFA said.
It also said there will be full engagement with all parties for each strand of the review process with the opportunity offered to make submissions and that draft final reports will be published for each strand pending further comment/feedback by stakeholders.
New chair
Since the protest commenced three weeks ago the IFA has consistently stated that the chair of Bord Bia Larry Murrin must be removed from his position in order for the protest to end.
IFA deputy president Alice Doyle was the first to float the idea of Larry Murrin stepping aside at the recent Joint Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture meeting but this didn’t gain any traction.
As part of this new proposal the IFA is willing to agree to the chair stepping aside from his position as part of the review process.
The IFA goes on to say that if all of its pre-conditions outlined in the letter are met it will suspend the protest.
"If all of the above is agreed IFA will suspend its protest inside and outside the Bord Bia offices with immediate effect."
Read more
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The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has proposed a seven-point review process to Bord Bia which, if agreed to, could provide a resolution to the ongoing row over the position of embattled board chair Larry Murrin.
In a letter seen by the Irish Farmers Journal that was sent from IFA president Francie Gorman to all members of the board of Bord Bia on Thursday, he outlines the conditions that need to be met for IFA to stand down its protest at Bord Bia.
The seven conditions detailed in the letter to be part of the review process are:
1. Board membership eligibility
In conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a list of minimum eligibility requirements would be agreed for future appointments to the Bord Bia board and for the position of chair of the board.
2. Board governance and terms of reference
The governance structure and terms of reference for the board will be reviewed with a specific focus on ensuring that they are fit-for-purpose and to clarify the role of the chair and the board. Consideration will also be given to what constitutes a conflict of interest or a perceived conflict of interest as set in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
Tom Byrne of Co Wicklow is one of the five protesters that remain inside Bord Bia. \ Claire Nash
3. Farmer Quality Assurance (QA) schemes and inspection process
Review of audit and inspection processes including review of the purpose of the sustainability survey. This strand would also review the new proposed risk-based audit approach including firm commitments on reduction in audit inspection times as previously sought by IFA.
4. Non-farmer certified QA schemes/standards
Farmer representation would be included on the technical advisory committees (TACs) for agreeing non-farmer QA schemes/standards, particularly given that processors currently have representation on farmer QA scheme TACs.
5. Origin Green
The criteria for eligibility for Origin Green will be reviewed. This would then be overseen by a TAC including farmers, processors, retail and food service businesses.
6. Bord Bia online accreditations
A full review would take place of all Bord Bia websites to ensure that that all listed accreditations are fully up to date.
7. Bord Bia QA scheme overreach
Farmers originally participated in Bord Bia QA schemes based on the understanding that these schemes will ensure their produce gains improved market access and is differentiated in the marketplace. However, Bord Bia QA schemes are now becoming a requirement of other schemes such as the CAP Suckler Cow Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH). Accordingly, a full review of the use of QA schemes for non-market related schemes would be undertaken. This would also include the need for the capture of information not required for marketing purposes being part of the audit process.
Review structure
The IFA has said that the review process would be structured.
“This would see all strands of the review process will take place under the auspices of a three-person sub-committee of the board with membership to be pre-agreed by the board.
Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin. \ Claire Nash
“The terms of reference for each strand of the review process will be proposed by this sub-committee before being brought to the board for approval on a consensus basis; ie all board members to agree,” the IFA said.
It also said there will be full engagement with all parties for each strand of the review process with the opportunity offered to make submissions and that draft final reports will be published for each strand pending further comment/feedback by stakeholders.
New chair
Since the protest commenced three weeks ago the IFA has consistently stated that the chair of Bord Bia Larry Murrin must be removed from his position in order for the protest to end.
IFA deputy president Alice Doyle was the first to float the idea of Larry Murrin stepping aside at the recent Joint Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture meeting but this didn’t gain any traction.
As part of this new proposal the IFA is willing to agree to the chair stepping aside from his position as part of the review process.
The IFA goes on to say that if all of its pre-conditions outlined in the letter are met it will suspend the protest.
"If all of the above is agreed IFA will suspend its protest inside and outside the Bord Bia offices with immediate effect."
Read more
Gorman vows that IFA will protest for ‘as long as it takes’ to remove Murrin
Time to move on from Murrin controversy – Minister
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