Sinn Féin has outlined to an Taoiseach Micheál Martin the legislative powers it claims could be used by Government to remove Larry Murrins from his position of Bord Bia chair - after the Government leader asked for the opposition party to do so.

The legislation flagged by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD was section 18(1) of the Bord Bia Act of 1994 which states the minister for agriculture has the power to remove board members.

An Taoiseach has suggested that calls for Government to remove Larry Murrin amount to a “witch hunt” in the latest statement from Government supporting the beleaguered meat factory boss in staying on in his role as Bord Bia’s chair.

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Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday - just one day after three of his own backbench TDs broke party ranks to add to the growing number of calls for Murrin to resign or be removed - an Taoiseach said that it has been Bord Bia that achieved Ireland’s recent beef export value growth.

The remarks came as Deputy McDonald claimed that Murrin’s position as Bord Bia chair is “untenable” and that his role as managing director of Dawn Farm Foods, which imported beef from Brazil last year, represents a “massive conflict of interests”.

“How long will the Taoiseach keep his head buried in the sand, ignoring farming organisations, parties across the Dáil and many of his own TDs,” McDonald asked.

The opposition leader said that Government has “the power to remove him from post”.

“The more it dithers and delays, the more damage is done to the reputation of Bord Bia. When will the Government use the powers available to it and remove Mr Murrin as chair of Bord Bia?” she asked.

Powers and witch hunts

An Taoiseach asked Deputy McDonald to “outline the powers and the basis for what she said” before he expressed support for Murrin.

Sinn Féin subsequently released a statement to media citing the 1994 act that established Bord Bia and which states that: “The Minister may at any time remove from office a member of the board.

“It is incredible that the head of government is blissfully unaware of the powers afforded to the government in legislation to remove Mr Murrin, especially given the controversy that has unfolded over the last week or so,” Deputy McDonald said in this statement.

In the Dáil debate, an Taoiseach had said: “I have never been one for witch hunts. Notwithstanding the issues, I just do not like them.

“Governments have to do things properly and have to behave properly and appropriately. In terms of individuals, I have no relationship or whatever with Mr Murrin.

“However, Bord Bia has performed exceptionally well. In total, Irish beef exports to 70 countries have increased over the past five years by €890m. That is from €2.2bn in 2019 to €3.1bn in 2024.

“That is an increase of 40% in beef exports and we are in here looking for the head of the person who was the head of the organisation that has achieved that. We need to have perspective in our debates.”