No increase in withdrawals from farm audits - Bord Bia
Bord Bia said there has been no increase in farmers withdrawing from audits as the controversy surrounding Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin continues.
There have been multiple calls from farm organisations and some politicans for Murrin to resign as Bord Bia chair following confirmation that his company, Dawn Farms, sourced 1% of its beef supply in 2025 from Brazil.
They believe that Murrin's business sourcing beef from Brazil makes his role as chair of the body tasked with promoting Irish food "untenable".
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has expressed "full confidence" in Larry Murrin as Bord Bia chair.
The minister said "that no rules were broken" by Murrin or his company.
Bord Bia
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) is continuing its rolling protest, which began on Monday (January 26), outside Bord Bia headquarters in Dublin.
IFA president Francie Gorman said the protest will continue until Larry Murrin is no longer chair of Bord Bia.
He said that farmers are "really angry" particularly in relation to the additional requirements placed on farmers through Bord Bia's quality assurance (QA) schemes, while lower quality beef imports from countries such as Brazil continue to enter the market.
Audits
Under Bord Bia's Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS) and the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) regular audits are carried out on dairy, beef and sheep farms.
A spokesperson for Bord Bia confirmed to Agriland that "a small proportion" of its farmer members have "contacted Bord Bia to voice their concerns concerning the current impasse".
"We understand there is frustration, and we respect the views of our farmer members.
"Bord Bia audits are continuing as normal. There has not been an increase in withdrawals from audits compared to this time last year.
"Bord Bia is in close contact with our audit bodies in relation to the matter, which is standard in the running of the schemes," they added.
IFA president Francie Gorman noted this week that for farmers currently selling stock they need to be quality assured "to be able to get the maximum [price] out in the marketplace".
"I would be very slow at this stage to say to individual farmers, do not comply with the audit, because we don't need to fight this issue out of individual farmers' pockets.
"That's what we're here for in IFA to fight it as an organisation," he said.
Committee
Meanwhile, chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food Aindrias Moynihan has confirmed to Agriland that it will be requesting Larry Murrin to appear before the committee.
During a private meeting of the committee yesterday, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture and TD for Carlow-Kilkenny Peter 'Chap' Cleere requested that Murrin be invited to address members.
He is among several Fianna Fáil TDs who have called on Larry Murrin to consider his position as chair of Bord Bia.
Fianna Fáil TD for Clare and suckler farmer Cathal Crowe and Ryan O'Meara, Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary North have also voiced concern about the issue.
