Planned Limerick IFA meeting on Bord Bia this week cancelled after major development

A PLANNED public meeting, hosted by Limerick IFA, to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding Bord Bia has been called off.

IFA president Francie Gorman was due to attend the meeting in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare this Wednesday night, March 4. It was expected to draw large crowds from Limerick and around Munster.

However, it was cancelled late on Monday night after it was announced that members of the IFA ended their sit-in protest at Bord Bia, after the State agency’s board agreed to an independent expert-led governance review into its operations.

The IFA president said that a full governance review of Bord Bia announced “will examine issues that have come to light during the controversy relating to chair Larry Murrin”.

The dispute started some weeks ago after it emerged that Mr Murrin's company Dawn Farms had been importing some Brazilian beef for use in its products.

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Farming organisations had called on him to step down over the issue - claiming it created a conflict of interest - given the State agency's role in promoting Irish food.

Mr Gorman said the board (of Bord Bia) will continue to meet during the review, but Mr Murrin will step aside from chairing the meetings. They will be chaired by another board member.

“IFA had put a proposal to the board 10 days ago that identified seven strands that should be examined and that the chair would step aside while these are being considered. This was the basis of today’s outcome.

“IFA has agreed to stand down their protest until the review is complete and while Mr Murrin is not chairing board meetings,” said Mr Gorman.

Five farmers have occupied the building for 28 days with a rolling 24-hour protest outside for 36 days.

“These farmers are heroes. They have sacrificed so much for their fellow farmers as have those who have kept a 24-hour rolling protest going outside,” said Mr Gorman.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon welcomed the agreement reached at a board meeting of Bord Bia which was called to discuss the current impasse.

“I am pleased that my proposal for an independent governance review of the board of Bord Bia has been accepted and that the ongoing protest has been stood down. Larry Murrin will remain as chair of Bord Bia and as agreed by the board and the chair in the interests of moving forward, during the period of the review scheduled board meetings will be facilitated by another current board member.

“Bord Bia are also progressing a new Farmers Forum which will provide an opportunity for renewed engagement between farmers and Bord Bia. It is now time to come together to support the essential work of Bord Bia, which delivers important benefits for farmers and the agri-food sector as a whole,” said Mr Heydon.

The ICMSA also welcomed the agreement with president Denis Drennan saying, “now focus must turn immediately to hugely important matters like CAP, bovine TB, and especially the current collapse of milk prices”.