'He is making Bord Bia the laughing stock of Europe' - Leitrim's IFA's Rural Development Committee chair

Gerry McGarry, who is Leitrim's IFA's Rural Development Officer, told the Leitrim Observer this week, that in his view, Larry Murrin has to step down from his role as Chair of Bord Bia.

Mr Murrin told the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture this week that he remains "fully committed" to his role as Chair of Bord Bia, despite calls for him to step down after it emerged his company - Dawn Farms - imports Brazilian beef.

Mr Murrin also denied claims there is a conflict of interest for him as Bord Bia Chair due to the situation.

In his opening address to the committee, Mr Murrin said that he is taking the matter "very seriously" and that he understands "the frustration being expressed by farmers, and I fully respect their right to voice concern".

"However, I do not support the behaviour of IFA members occupying Bord Bia reception in recent days," he added.

Mr McGarry said: "I think he should step down; his position is untenable. He is making Bord Bia the laughing stock of Europe and the world; that's my opinion. He's chairman of Bord Bia and his company is importing Brazilian beef into this country. Everyone can see there is a direct conflict of interest."  Our international competitors can see this too.

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He said that as chair of Ireland's Food trade development and promotion body, Mr Murrin's role is to promote Irish farm produce on an international stage and "at the same time, his company is importing Brazilian beef which is well proven to be substandard and have dubious traceability. Irish farmers have to produce the highest quality food to enter the Bord Bia scheme. We are subject to an audit every 18 months. Farmers complain a bit about the complexity of the audit but it's there to reassure and protect consumers in Ireland and Europe and the countries we export to. Yet the man who sits as chair of that organisation, which promotes Irish produce, is importing Brazilian beef."

Mr McGarry, who has joined five other Leitrim IFA members outside the HQ of Bord Bia last week, noted that growth hormones and antibiotics are used in Brazilian beef without any regulations. "If an Irish farmer's animal gets sick and needs treatment, the farmer has to record that and has to wait between 40 and 90 days before letting that animal's produce enter the food chain for the safety of the consumer. The meat from Brazil is not subject to those stringent conditions and that has been proven by The Farmer's Journal representatives who have been over there and proven you can buy growth promoters and antibiotics where you can buy a Mars bar. No name, herd number or traceability measures were needed."

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He added that he hoped that Mr Mullin would step down from the position himself. "The position of the IFA, the ICMSA and  I believe other organisations is that he must go. Bord Bia is there to protect the consumer and farmers are on board with that but if he stays, it will erode confidence in Irish produce. The Irish food and drinks industry, farmers and Bord Bia have worked so hard to promote our brands but Mr Mullin's position as chair is now untenable  due to the reasons outlined above."