The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has proposed establishing "an independently run governance review" in a bid to break the Bord Bia stalemate.

Minister Martin Heydon said today (Thursday, February 26) that the board of Bord Bia will be consulted at a meeting next Monday (March 2) about his proposal to establish the independently-run governance review.

"I propose that after Monday’s meeting, the board would not meet again until the review is complete," Minister Heydon added.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has been protesting at Bord Bia's Dublin headquarters since January 26 in relation to the role of Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia.

Five IFA members have also been inside the HQ building for over three weeks now.

Murrin has been at the centre of a storm in recent weeks over whether his role as chair of Bord Bia is, as some have claimed, "incompatible" with his role as CEO of Dawn Farm Foods.

This is mainly because the Irish company confirmed that the business sources some beef from Brazil.

According to Murrin, "sourcing a small quantity outside Ireland does not diminish our commitment to Irish beef or farmers". He has also maintained that he has "never been conflicted in undertaking my role as chair of Bord Bia".

The IFA however believes Larry Murrin's position as chair of Bord Bia is "untenable" and have said "farmer confidence will only be restored with his removal".

Minister Heydon today reiterated his "full confidence" for Larry Murrin to continue in the role of chair of Bord Bia.

He said that Murrin had been selected to be chair "following a competitive process and appointed in accordance with the required corporate governance procedures for state boards".

Minister Heydon also added that Murrin had appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture on February 5 "and gave a robust and in-depth explanation in relation to the matters which have been raised, including Dawn Farms supply chain contingency".

Minister Heydon

According to the minister there has been "extensive engagement and dialogue" in relation to Larry Murrin's role as chair of Bord Bia.

Following a recent Food Vision stakeholder meeting Minister Heydon said Bord Bia and DAFM had committed to:

Revisit the focus on farmer experiences with quality assurance audits;
Establish a farmer forum to improve farmer engagement with Bord Bia;
Undertake a dedicated information campaign, to better explain Origin Green and Quality Assurance Schemes (QAS).

Minister Heydon said following a Bord Bia board meeting last week the IFA had "submitted a document, consisting of seven strands" outlining a number of requests - many of which he said could be addressed by the new farmer forum.

The minister also stated:"In addition, I am examining the option to commission an expert led governance review which would cover the other strands of the IFA proposal. 

"I have spoken to the IFA president in recent days, and I believe there is an opportunity to bring a resolution to this.

"This protracted dispute is not in the best interest of the agri-food sector". 

According to the minister the board of Bord Bia last week issued a written request to the IFA to "cease the protest" but this had not happened.

He has appealed to the IFA to now "engage" with his proposals "in good faith, and to encourage the protestors still in the Bord Bia building to leave". 

"In the meantime, 140 staff in Bord Bia remain unable to access their office for their normal work, as a result of the continued occupation of the building’s lobby by IFA protestors," Minister Heydon added.