Minister Heydon reiterates full confidence in Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has reiterated his full confidence in Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal in Wexford on Friday, Minister Heydon said he did not agree with renewed calls from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) for Murrin to resign.

The Minister was adamant that he had full confidence in the chair, as he has maintained throughout the IFA’s calls for Murrin to go.

Minister Heydon’s comments come just days after the IFA submitted a letter to Bord Bia head office, restating that Murrin’s position was untenable due to his company’s importation of Brazilian beef and chicken.

The IFA submitted the letter on Wednesday afternoon and also handed in identical letters to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health.

Concerns

The letters were prompted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s recall of Brazilian meat imported into Ireland.

Concerns had been flagged about the imported meat as far back as May and the recall applies to all product imported since then.

The IFA called on Murrin to clarify whether his company, Dawn Farm Foods, continued to import Brazilian meat after the European Commission flagged these public health concerns three months ago.

A total ban on the importation of Brazilian beef came into effect last week.