A meeting of farmer groups was held yesterday (Tuesday, January 27) which resulted in a letter being written to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon on the ongoing controversy over the board of Bord Bia.

The meeting was composed of groups that fall outside what are generally considered the "main" farm organisations, with the exception of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA), which was at the meeting.

It is understood that the main farm organisations were invited to attend but most did not do so, with some instead sending messages of apologies.

The ICSA, while taking up the invitation to attend, chose not to sign the letter.

It is understood that the meeting was organised by the Beef Plan Movement.

The Beef Plan Movement described the meeting as "very positive and constructive" with "widespread agreement across many aspects of the situation".

The letter in question calls not only for the resignation or removal of Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia, but also that the "structure and composition" of the entire board of Bord Bia "must change".

The letter goes on to claim that there are "wider issues with the governance and operation of Bord Bia, as a whole, which must be resolved".

The letter is signed by the following groups:

Beef Plan Movement;
Individual Farmers Tractor Protest Group;
Independent Farmers of Ireland;
Irish Suckler Society;
Irish Beef & Lamb Association;
Irish Rural Association;
Irish Rural Association/Kerry Milltown 23 Group.

The ICSA opted not to sign the letter, but it is understood that its representatives will report back to its national executive on the contents of the meeting and the letter.

The letter to Minister Heydon said: "The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and yourself...have expressed immediate and complete confidence in the chair of Bord Bia and the organisation as a whole, without waiting to investigate the views and concerns of farm organisations and groups."

The letter went on to claim: "Every day that goes by without resolution of this situation further damages the reputation of our food industry.

According to the letter, the groups that signed it are "prepared to take further collective action to see the issues at hand resolved".

The groups signing the letter requested that a meeting be held between themselves and Minister Heydon to discuss Bord Bia.