The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) wants to meet with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture to discuss comments made by Larry Murrin when the Bord Bia chair went before the committee last Thursday.
IFA president Francie Gorman has said that the association has identified 10 aspects of Murrin’s remarks to TDs and senators that it wants clarified.
These issues range from Bord Bia’s governance to Dawn Farm Foods’ sourcing strategies.
Gorman insists that the resolve of IFA members seeking Murrin’s removal has not waivered, as its protest at Bord Bia’s head offices in Dublin enters its third week as the IFA’s position remains unchanged in wanting the chair gone.
“The evidence given by Larry Murrin last Thursday raised very serious questions about compliance with the governance code for State bodies, his sourcing policy, claims made on his website and the criteria for Origin Green eligibility, among other issues,” Gorman commented.
“We have identified 10 specific points that have arisen from Mr Murrin’s testimony to the joint Oireachtas committee. There are also other issues. Every day that goes by, more issues are arising.”
The IFA is pushing to meet with the Oireachtas committee before Wednesday night, as there is a Dáil motion on the cards regarding confidence in Murrin.
Gorman said that another Bord Bia quality assurance meeting which had been due to take place has been postponed.
“This is the fifth time that meetings have been postponed or abandoned since the controversy arose,” he said.
“This shows that Bord Bia cannot carry out its functions because of the ongoing controversy. Farmers will not work with Bord Bia while someone who is importing Brazilian beef and poultry remains in the chair.
“Farmer anger around this issue has not dissipated. The only solution we can see is for the chair to recognise the damage this is doing to Bord Bia and step down.
“A new chair would allow a rebuilding of the relationship between Bord Bia and farmers to begin.”
The IFA also said that a meeting of association members in Carlow on Sunday night had heard that Carlow County Council is to vote on Monday on a motion calling for Murrin to step down from his role in Bord Bia.
Read more
10 questions the IFA wants Larry Murrin and Bord Bia to answer
As it happened: Larry Murrin appears before Oireachtas committee
Five key takeaways from Larry Murrin’s Oireachtas committee appearance
No sign of truce between IFA and Bord Bia
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) wants to meet with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture to discuss comments made by Larry Murrin when the Bord Bia chair went before the committee last Thursday.
IFA president Francie Gorman has said that the association has identified 10 aspects of Murrin’s remarks to TDs and senators that it wants clarified.
These issues range from Bord Bia’s governance to Dawn Farm Foods’ sourcing strategies.
Gorman insists that the resolve of IFA members seeking Murrin’s removal has not waivered, as its protest at Bord Bia’s head offices in Dublin enters its third week as the IFA’s position remains unchanged in wanting the chair gone.
“The evidence given by Larry Murrin last Thursday raised very serious questions about compliance with the governance code for State bodies, his sourcing policy, claims made on his website and the criteria for Origin Green eligibility, among other issues,” Gorman commented.
“We have identified 10 specific points that have arisen from Mr Murrin’s testimony to the joint Oireachtas committee. There are also other issues. Every day that goes by, more issues are arising.”
The IFA is pushing to meet with the Oireachtas committee before Wednesday night, as there is a Dáil motion on the cards regarding confidence in Murrin.
Gorman said that another Bord Bia quality assurance meeting which had been due to take place has been postponed.
“This is the fifth time that meetings have been postponed or abandoned since the controversy arose,” he said.
“This shows that Bord Bia cannot carry out its functions because of the ongoing controversy. Farmers will not work with Bord Bia while someone who is importing Brazilian beef and poultry remains in the chair.
“Farmer anger around this issue has not dissipated. The only solution we can see is for the chair to recognise the damage this is doing to Bord Bia and step down.
“A new chair would allow a rebuilding of the relationship between Bord Bia and farmers to begin.”
The IFA also said that a meeting of association members in Carlow on Sunday night had heard that Carlow County Council is to vote on Monday on a motion calling for Murrin to step down from his role in Bord Bia.
Read more
10 questions the IFA wants Larry Murrin and Bord Bia to answer
As it happened: Larry Murrin appears before Oireachtas committee
Five key takeaways from Larry Murrin’s Oireachtas committee appearance
No sign of truce between IFA and Bord Bia
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