Sit-in protest at Bord Bia ends following promise of review

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

A long-running sit-in protest at Bord Bia has ended following a commitment to an independent review.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said it had been protesting at Bord Bia’s offices since January 26th as part of a dispute with the state agency charged with promoting and enforcing standards in Irish food.

Five people had been occupying the lobby of the building since February 3rd.

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

Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin has faced calls to step down after revelations that his company Dawn Farm Foods sourced “less than 1 per cent” of its beef from Brazil last year for contingency planning in a contract.

Murrin appeared before a committee earlier this month and said that while his company mostly buys from Irish farmers, he needed to demonstrate that Ireland can import beef from somewhere else as part of contingency planning.

He said allegations of a conflict of interest are “false” and “driven” by social media.

The Bord Bia board agreed to an independent expert-led governance review into its operations during a meeting on Monday.

Murrin is to stand aside from chairing board meetings for the duration of the review, however he is to remain as chairman.

IFA president Francie Gorman said five “heroic” farmers occupied Bord Bia for 28 days.

“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,” he said.

“IFA has agreed to stand down their protest until the review is complete and while Larry Murrin is not chairing board meetings.

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

“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.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon welcomed the agreement at the board meeting 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,” he said.

“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.”

Heydon added: “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.”