Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly has written to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) to make an official complaint in relation to the chair of Bord Bia, Larry Murrin.

The senator lodged the complaint after it was confirmed Dawn Farm Foods, of which Murrin is the managing director, sources some beef from Brazil.

Last week, Dawn Farms Foods confirmed to Agriland that Brazilian beef accounted for 1% of the beef it supplied in 2025.

A spokesperson for Bord Bia has confirmed that a meeting of the board will take place tomorrow (Thursday, January 22).

Bord Bia

In a statement, Senator O’Reilly, who sits on the Seanad Agricultural Panel, said:

"The information which has been brought to light by the Beef Plan Movement in relation to the chairman of Bord Bia, and the company of which he is managing director - Dawn Farm Foods - is deeply concerning and undermines public confidence in Bord Bia.

"We’ve learned that this company is using Brazilian beef. The actions of his company contradict entirely with the purpose of Bord Bia, which is to promote Irish beef."

Senator O’Reilly confirmed that she has written to SIPO to ask them to fully investigate this matter.

In the letter, the senator notes that Bord Bia and specifically its chair fall under SIPO’s remit, as per the legislation and relevant guidelines.

“I believe that Mr Murrin should have declared his interest in Dawn Farm Foods to the Standards in Public Office Commission, and also that he should have disclosed that his company was using Brazilian beef and supporting the importation of Brazilian beef, while he held office in a role where he was supposed to be promoting Irish beef, at a time when the Irish beef market is under attack internationally," the letter states.