The government has won a late night vote in the Dáil supporting Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia.

Last week, Sinn Féin moved a Dáil motion calling on the government to remove Larry Murrin as chair of the Irish Food Board.

A vote on the motion had been deferred until last night (Wednesday, February 11) after the government tabled an amendment to the motion following a heated debate in the Dáil on the subject.

The amendment stated that the government retains confidence in Murrin as Bord Bia chair.

The vote passed in the Dáil shortly before midnight last night by a margin of 88 in favour to 61 against.

Dáil

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

The Irish company has confirmed that the business sources some beef from Brazil.

According to Dawn Farm Foods, Brazilian beef accounted for 1% of its beef supply in 2025.

Sinn Féin had called for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon to use his powers to remove Larry Murrin, from office with immediate effect.

The Sinn Féin motion had noted the mission statement of Bord Bia, the importance of food and drink to the economy, and the importance of farmers as primary producers.

The motion had also outlined that "Irish farmers and their representative organisations have lost confidence in the chairperson of Bord Bia".

It also claimed that Murrin continuing as Bord Bia chair "undermines public confidence in Bord Bia and damages Ireland's reputation as a world leader producing food that adheres to the highest standards".

The government amendment deleted this call, and the claims over lack of confidence in Bord Bia, and would replaced them with references to the value of Irish agri-food exports and Bord Bia's role in promoting them.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has been protesting at Bord Bia's Dublin headquarters since January 26.

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

Additional reporting by Aisling O'Brien