Offaly Councillors call for removal of Bord Bia Chairman

THE COUNCILLORS of Offaly County Council called for the removal of the Bord Bia Chairman Larry Murrin during their February monthly meeting this week.

Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick (Independent) began the discussion on the matter when he called upon the Council to write a letter to the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon demanding Mr Murrin's removal because of a conflict of interest regarding the importation of Brazilian beef. He said he agreed with farming organisations which are stating that Mr Murrin is acting as CEO of Dawn Farms, a company that sources Brazilian beef, and holding these two roles is a “blatant conflict of interest.” The Councillors agreed with the position of farming organisations that Bord Bia is responsible for promoting and protecting Irish food, therefore its Chair must fully support local farmers and not have business interests that work against them.

During the Council's discussion it was obvious that the Fine Gael Councillors and at least one Fianna Fáil Councillor felt divided because Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had supported Mr Murrin, voting against an opposition motion in the Dáil calling for his removal. Eventually, though, the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Councillors did not object to the Council sending a letter to the Minister for Agriculture calling for Mr Murrin's resignation.

The Councillors agreed with the position taken by the IFA regarding the Mercosur deal and Brazilian beef coming into Ireland. The IFA believes that the Mercosur deal will threaten the farming industry because farmers will be facing unfair competition. The IFA also points out that Brazilian beef comes with food safety concerns, including the unregulated use of veterinary medicines and hormones banned in Ireland. The Councillors also agreed with the IFA's position that Irish farmers work hard to “produce the highest quality beef and they deserve full backing, not to be undercut by imports linked to the Bord Bia Chair’s business.”

Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick pointed out that Bord Bia Quality Assurance farm inspections are strict and are stressful for the farmers subjected to them. “Therefore, to see that the Bord Bia Chair is also CEO of Dawn Farms sticks in the craw and implies a double standard, or at best a lack of due regard and support for Irish farmers. It really doesn't add up for the farming community. In Ireland we produce very high standard products. Brazil doesn't comply with these high standards. I know that some people are saying the IFA are going over the top with this, but I don't agree. The IFA feels very strongly about this, and rightly so.”

Cllr Hughie Egan (Fine Gael) said the controversy has been going on for weeks and he recently talked to Minister Heydon about it. “The two sides of the argument are deeply entrenched about the issue,” he remarked. “It's backs to the wall stuff and is going nowhere fast. They need to find an outside mediator or facilitator and find common ground. The Government is not going to sack Mr Murrin.” Cllr Egan pointed out that if farmers don't get the Bord Bia Quality Assurance stamp of approval then they lose significant amounts of money at the abattoirs.

Cllr Neil Feighery (Fine Gael) said Irish farmers produce “world class food”. He said the optics of double standards in Bord Bia is not a good look. The Councillor pointed out that 1400 people are employed by Bord Bia, 700 of them in the agency's Headquarters in Naas. He commended the IFA's position but advised that everyone “take the heat out of the battle” and enter into a mediation process.

Cllr Fitzpatrick commented that Cllr Feighery's advice could be the way forward. “Dialogue and mediation might help the situation.”

Cllr Aoife Masterson (Sinn Féin) pointed out that her party “has led the charge against the Mercosur deal for years. To get the Quality Assurance mark is a very demanding challenge for farmers. Our beef is world class. It beggared belief that Sinn Féin's motion calling for Mr Murrin's removal was defeated in the Dáil.” She didn't agree with the Fine Gael Councillors' call for mediation and dialogue. “The time for mediation is gone; we need to see the Chair's removal. The farming community is being very clear about that. The present state of affairs is an insult to the farming community. The Council should call on the Minister to seek Mr Murrin's resignation.”

Cllr Fergus McDonnell (Independent Ireland) said the government's position on the controversy reminded him of “Trumpism, where you say one thing and act in another. Why the government is nailing its colours to the mast behind the Bord Bia Chair defies logic. The Chair has to go.”

Cllr Claire Murray (Sinn Féin) said she agreed with Cllr Masterson. “Mediation is not the way forward because the Chair's position is unsustainable. I have heard that the IFA are going to hold a number of protests outside the Bord Bia headquarters in Naas in the near future.”

Cllr Feighery said he preferred mediation to “calling for a head. Is it a sign of where our society's public discourse is at, this unwillingness to seek dialogue and diplomacy?”

Cllr John Leahy (Independent) said the matter has been discussed for weeks and there's no sign of a resolution. “I don't see how any more dialogue could work.”

Cllr Peter Ormond (Fianna Fáil) urged more dialogue and for everyone “to get around the table and sort this out.”

Finally, however, the Council agreed to send the following letter to the Minister: “Dear Minister Heydon, At the meeting of Offaly County Council held on 16th February, the members of Offaly County Council agreed to support the IFA on its call for the Government to remove the Chairperson of Bord Bia, Mr Larry Murrin, from his position in light of the ongoing controversy and protest. I would be obliged for your consideration and response on the above so that I can advise the Elected Members of same. Yours faithfully, Evan Fennell, Meetings Administrator, Corporate Services, Offaly County Council.”

The letter was posted to the Minister on Wednesday.

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