Bord Bia has “gone into hiding” over the "controversy" surrounding its chair’s sourcing policy on Brazilian beef, the president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said today (Sunday, January 25).

Bord Bia had to call a meeting of its board last week to discuss the role of its chair, Larry Murrin, who is also the CEO of Dawn Farm Foods.

Earlier this month the company confirmed to Agriland that Brazilian beef accounted for 1% of its beef supply in 2025.

The disclosure came after the Beef Plan Movement first drew attention to Dawn Farm Foods’ sourcing policy.

The organisation had raised questions about sourcing practices by companies in Ireland after one of its members noticed a sign that was displayed in a Subway restaurant.

Subway confirmed to Agriland that it "did not source any beef from Brazil for its Irish restaurants in 2025" and has "no plans to do so".

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

Over the last seven days various farm organisations and also the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald have called for Larry Murrin to resign as the chair of Bord Bia because of Dawn Farm Foods’ sourcing policy in Brazil.

However the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has expressed "full confidence" in the Bord Bia chair and said that Larry Murrin will continue to serve as chair.

Bord Bia

Key Bord Bia meetings on producer standards had to be rescheduled to next month after farmer organisations confirmed they would not attend in light of concerns about its chair.

It is understood that Larry Murrin personally offered to meet with members of the IFA and ICMSA at various meetings around the country to explain in detail Dawn Farm Foods' sourcing policies - but this offer was not taken up.

It is also understood that senior government sources have accused the presidents of these organisations of "misleading their members" in relation to the ongoing debate over the Bord Bia chair.

Today, the president of the IFA, Francie Gorman, said it was correct that at the Bord Bia board meeting last week - which he attended - Larry Murrin offered to brief the IFA on "his use of Brazilian beef".

Gorman said: “I did not take up this offer, on the grounds that it would only inflame matters.

"This is the issue farmers have - not the reasons for it, or where or when, or how much."

IFA

The IFA president also said that the chair of Bord Bia could have called a public farmer meeting at any stage last week to "explain" his position.

Gorman added: "In fact, I had to write to Bord Bia twice before the board meeting was convened.

"They can still call a public meeting this week and the minister and the other board members could attend.

“The reality is that Bord Bia have had to call off their planned meetings with farmers scheduled for tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday because of this issue. The reality is that they have gone into hiding and hoping this will pass".

According to Gorman he has no intention of resigning from the board of Bord Bia.

"I will be staying on the board and continuing to seek the removal of the chair,” he added.

ICMSA

Separately the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) said senior government sources had tried to "direct blame" on to farming organisations as dissention over the future of the chair of Bord Bia continues.

The organisation has also 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.