Bord Bia chairperson Larry Murrin has confirmed that his business, Dawn Farm Foods, sources some of its poultry from Brazil.

The embattled Murrin said that his business accounts for between 7% and 10% of Ireland's 120,000t of poultry imports to Ireland, though he didn't specify how much of this figure comes from Brazil.

Murrin outlined the figure during his appearance at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food today (Thursday, February 5).

Murrin is at the committee to speak about concerns raised among politicians and farm organisations that his role as Bord Bia chair clashes with his business role as CEO of Dawn Farm Foods, which sources some of its beef from Brazil.

There have also been calls from stakeholders for Murrin to confirm if his business sources any poultry from Brazil.

The matter was raised in the committee meeting today by TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere, who asked Murrin if his business sourced any poultry or pigmeat from Brazil.

In response, Murrin confirmed that Dawn Farm Foods sources some poultry from Brazil, but does not source pigmeat.

However, Murrin did not outline what percentage of his business' poultry supply comes from Brazil, although he did outline what percentage of Ireland's 'white meat' poultry imports Dawn Farm Foods accounts for.

"I have been asked this question through media channels. I chose not to answer because I thought today was the right place to answer that question," he said.

"Ireland, in poultry terms, is about 70% self-sufficient, and of that 70%, the poultry industry here is Ireland exports about 25% of what it produces, and these are based on Central Statistics Office figures," Murrin said.

"Ireland then imports about 120,000t or more of poultry to satisfy local demand," he added.

"We are a buyer principally only of white meat, and most of the 120,000-plus tonnes that comes into Ireland is white meat," Murrin said.

"We [Dawn Farm Foods] are accountable for between 7% and 10% of that, the rest is in free distribution to all sorts of channels around the country," the Bord Bia chair added.

Poultry farmer protest

As Murrin was addressing the committee today, poultry farmers protested in Co. Monaghan at a hotel were a Bord Bia workshop on audits was due to take place.

Around 50 poultry farmers gathered there this morning as they urged Murrin to step down from his position as Bord Bia chairperson.

Poultry producers gathered at the Hillgrove Hotel in Co. Monaghan for a number of hours this morning, where the IFA said Bord Bia was due to hold a "workshop on new criteria and pilot audits".

The workshop was to discuss the progression of pilot audits in the context of avian influenza and associated biosecurity risks, according to Bord Bia.

Bord Bia said stakeholders will be contacted to reschedule the meeting.

The protesters said "we cannot have constructive engagement until the chair [Murrin] is removed and confidence is restored".

IFA poultry chair Brendan Soden had, in recent days, called on Murrin to "confirm if his companies import Brazilian chicken as well as Brazilian beef".