Kildare IFA protest at Heydon's constituency office over Bord Bia
Members of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) in Co. Kildare have protested at the constituency office of Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon.
The protest coincides with an ongoing protest at Bord Bia's head offices in Dublin over its chairperson Larry Murrin.
The controversy surrounding Murrin has been ongoing for several weeks.
The IFA and other farm organisations have called on Murrin to resign or be removed, after it emerged that his business, Dawn Farm Foods, sourced some beef from Brazil.
The IFA started protesting at Bord Bia's headquarters almost two weeks ago, and in the last week gained access to the building and started a sit-in process.
The protest at Minister Heydon's constituency office is the latest development in the IFA's action.
A post on the IFA's X page from earlier today (Saturday, February 7) says: "Kildare IFA have congregated outside Minister Martin Heydon’s constituency office in Newbridge to highlight their anger with the minister’s continued backing of Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia."
In response to this demonstration at his constituency office, the minister said: "We had a very democratic process this week with open debate in the Dáil and Oireachtas committee debating this issue.
"The whole process clearly outlined that no rules were broken.
"We've had the debates, the work of Bord Bia is really important for our farmers' incomes," Minister Heydon said.
The minister said he will be "working away with everyone that wants to work" with him.
Bord Bia protest
The IFA protest at the Bord Bia head office in Dublin is continuing today.
According to the IFA, six high ranking members of the organisation are currently inside the Bord Bia building continuing the protest.
A video, seen by Agriland, has circulated online from inside the building in which one of the protesters can be heard claiming that they have been "deprived" of food. The speaker appears to be blaming Bord Bia for this alleged situation.
Additionally, a post on X from IFA member Patrick Horgan - which was reposted by the IFA's main X account - claimed that the six IFA members in the building "are currently being denied food, water and basic necessities".
In a statement to Agriland, Bord Bia said that its offices close on the weekends, and that only limited services would be available to the protesters during that time.
"Despite repeated requests for IFA members to leave the Bord Bia offices, six protesters remain inside our premises as of this afternoon," the Bord Bia statement said.
"On Friday, IFA members were notified that the building is closed for the weekend and only limited services and amenities would be available to them over the weekend period.
"The six individuals who remain continue to have access to water and sanitation. They are unlawfully occupying our office, and are free to leave at any stage," the statement added.
It is understood that Bord Bia staff who normally work in the building have been asked to work from home during weekdays while the IFA occupation is ongoing.
Political response
The Labour Party's spokesperson for rural and community development and workers' rights, Senator Nessa Cosgrove, has called for the protesters to be treated "humanely" but also for them to end the occupation of the building.
"While I strongly urge the protestors to leave the building, as they have been requested to do, I also must insist that those who do continue to protest at Bord Bia headquarters be treated humanely, with dignity and be provided with the basic means of sustaining life and health," Senator Cosgrove said.
