Senior government sources are trying to "direct blame" on to farming organisations as dissention over the future of the chair of Bord Bia continues, according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA).

The organisation has hit back angrily at suggestions by senior government sources that farm organisations are "misleading their members" in relation to the ongoing debate over the Bord Bia chair.

Larry Murrin is the CEO of Dawn Farm Foods (Dawn Farms) and has been chair of Bord Bia since 2024.

Murrin was appointed as chair of Bord Bia on April 16, 2024 for a period of three years, by the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine [Charlie McConalogue] following a competitive process managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

He had previously served on the consumer foods sub board of Bord Bia since it was formed.

There have been repeated calls for the Bord Bia chair to resign after confirmation that his co-founded Irish firm, Dawn Farm Foods, sources beef from Brazil.

According to Dawn Farm Foods (Dawn Farms) in 2025 "Irish beef made up the majority" of its supply and together with the UK and other EU countries accounted for 99% of its overall annual supply.

However it has confirmed that Brazilian beef "accounted for the remaining 1%".

The largest farm organisations in the country, which represent thousands of Irish farmers, and also the Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, have said they believe Larry Murrin's role as chair of Bord Bia is "incompatible" with his role in Dawn Farm Foods.

Bord Bia's mission is "to bring Ireland's outstanding food, drink and horticulture produce to the world".

But the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said he has "full confidence" in Larry Murrin as Bord Bia chair.

Bord Bia

Senior government sources told Agriland that Murrin had offered to meet with members of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) at various meetings around the country to explain in detail Dawn Farm Foods' sourcing policies - but this offer was not taken up.

These senior government sources accused the presidents of these organisations of "misleading their members" in relation to the ongoing debate over the Bord Bia chair.

But the ICMSA has hit back strongly at this and said that the suggestion it "misled our members" on this issue was "just downright wrong and nonsensical".

The organisation told Agriland: "It’s not up to ICMSA to come up with an explanation on this issue, that’s a job for Bord Bia and these same ‘senior government officials'.

"What was absent – and is still absent – is a public explanation so that farmers can make up their mind on whether the situation is satisfactory."

ICMSA

According to the ICMSA this account should have been given "the very first day that this story broke, and it still hasn’t been released".

As reported by Agriland last week, members of the Beef Plan Movement noted signage in outlets of the sandwich shop chain Subway - which is supplied with beef by Dawn Farm Foods - that said that Irish Subway outlets were provided with beef sourced from approved plants in both Europe and Brazil.

At the time Subway said in a statement to Agriland that the signage "reflects Dawn Farm Foods’ approved sourcing certification".

Subway also confirmed that it "did not source any beef from Brazil for its Irish restaurants in 2025".

The ICMSA has accused senior government sources of trying to "direct blame onto the farm organisations” in relation to ongoing issues at Bord Bia and over the future of its current chair.

The organisation has said it is "deflection" and has urged Minister Heydon to "restore farmer confidence in the semi-state" organisation.