Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon is examining the option to commission an expert-led governance review to examine a number of the Irish Farmers' Association’s (IFA) proposals to resolve the ongoing dispute between the association and Bord Bia.
The board of Bord Bia will meet again on Monday 2 March and will be consulted on the Minister’s proposal to establish an independently run governance review to try to move this situation forward.
“The independent expert-led governance review will objectively assess the matters raised and provide me with recommendations,” Minister Heydon said.
“I propose that after Monday’s meeting, the board would not meet again until the review is complete. I ask the IFA to engage with these proposals in good faith and to encourage the protesters still in the Bord Bia building to leave,” he said.
“I believe an external, independent and expert-led review will be crucial in resolving issues credibly and objectively,” he added.
Bord Bia has said that the dispute with the farm body is the “most significant breakdown in relations” in the State body’s 30-year history.
The IFA has proposed a seven-point proposal and review process to resolve the situation. It said that it would only call off the protest if all its pre-conditions in the proposal were met.
Governance
Minister Heydon went on to say that Larry Murrin was appointed to the position of chair of Bord Bia in April 2024.
“He was selected following a competitive process and appointed in accordance with the required corporate governance procedures for State boards.
“Mr Murrin appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture on 5 February and gave a robust and in-depth explanation in relation to the matters which have been raised, including Dawn Farms’ supply chain contingency.
“Mr Murrin continues to have my full confidence to serve as chair of Bord Bia,” he added.
The Minister reiterated that there has been extensive engagement and dialogue in relation to this issue since it was first raised, including a Food Vision stakeholder meeting on Friday 13 February. Feedback following that meeting was received from the IFA, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers (ICMSA), Macra, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA), the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) and the Irish Grain Growers Group.
As a result of the discussions from the meeting, several commitments were made by Bord Bia and the Department to address the issues raised. One of these included a farmer forum to improve farmer engagement with Bord Bia.
The Minister said that many of the points in the IFA’s proposal will be dealt with at this forum.
Furthermore, the Minister said that his Department will undertake an initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink and an understanding of labelling and food information for the consumer requirement.
Resolution
“There has been detailed direct engagement by my Department with the IFA at senior official level to discuss a potential compromise.
“I have spoken to the IFA president in recent days and I believe there is an opportunity to bring a resolution to this.
Mr Murrin continues to have my full confidence to serve as chair of Bord Bia
"This protracted dispute is not in the best interest of the agri-food sector,” he said, noting the importance of Bord Bia in delivering growth in agri-food exports over the last decade.
“Last week, a written request to cease the protest was sent to the IFA from the board of Bord Bia, the IFA have not stood down the protest. Rather, they submitted a document requesting a review process into the various issues that have arisen in recent weeks.
“Again, many of the points raised by the IFA in that request will be dealt with by the farmers forum, which Bord Bia is establishing on foot of the 13 February meeting commitments.
“In the meantime, 140 staff in Bord Bia remain unable to access their office for their normal work, as a result of the continued occupation of the building’s lobby by IFA protesters,” he said.
SHARING OPTIONS