The review into the governance of Bord Bia, which was one of the agreements that ended protests at the headquarters of the Irish food board earlier in the year, is now not expected to be completed until the end of June.

When first announced, the review was expected to be completed by April 30.

An independent consultancy firm, Governance Ireland, has been "given a tender and a contract to carry out the review", according to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon.

Subsequently, Minister Heydon said that timeline wouldn't be met, and that the review was not expected to be completed until this month.

It now appears that this timeframe for completion of the review has been extended again, according to Bord Bia chief executive officer (CEO) Jim O'Toole.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1 to mark the start of Bord Bia Bloom, O'Toole said the review is "ongoing".

"The Minister of Agriculture commissioned an independent review and they're doing their work," he said.

When asked if he knew when the report would be finished, the Bord Bia CEO said: "By the end of June is the expectation."

Farmer Forum

Earlier today (Thursday, May 28), Bord Bia said it will expand engagement in its Farmer Forum initiative due to "strong interest".

The Farmer Forum was set up in the wake of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) protests over Bord Bia chairperson Larry Murrin earlier in the year.

Bord Bia said the Farmer Forum has received a significant number of applications from farmers and growers wishing to participate in the new initiative.

In response to the level of interest, the Irish food board said it is revising its approach to "ensure that all members who applied to participate in the Farmer Forum can do so".

To accommodate all eligible applicants, the state body is set to run a Farmer Forum "regional roadshow" this autumn. These events will take place in addition to Bord Bia Farmer Forum assemblies.

The first Bord Bia Farmer Forum assembly will comprise 100 farmers and growers, who will meet in June, with further assemblies taking place later in the year.