Calls made for Bord Bia Chairperson’s removal at Donegal MD meeting

Donegal County Councillor Jimmy Brogan told the Donegal Municipal District that the council should contact the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, to ask him to remove Larry Murrin as Chairperson of Bord Bia.

The controversy surrounds the Mercosur Trade Deal, which, if officially passed, makes it easier for South American countries to sell beef products in the EU, and simpler for EU countries to sell cars in Latin America, a major part of the economy in Germany, France, and Italy. 

Farmers' groups in numerous countries, such as Ireland, Poland, Italy, France and Germany have protested the upcoming trade deal, raising concerns about the safety of cheaper meat products, and the damage it would do to the domestic trade. 

Controversy arose for Murrin when the company that he is the Chief Executive of, Dawn Farm Foods, was found to be utilising beef imported from Mercosur countries within its products.

In late January, Minister Heydon said that Larry Murrin had his “full confidence.”

At Donegal Municipal District’s February meeting, Cllr Brogan said: “I am asking Donegal MD to contact the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, and ask him to remove Larry Murrin as Chairperson of Bord Bia.

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“I believe that Mr Larry Murrin should be removed as the Chairperson of Bord Bia in order to restore the confidence of farmers in Donegal and across the Northwest in that organisation.

“Farmers voted with their feet when they travelled in large numbers on a frosty morning to the protests in Athlone against the Mercosur Agreement. 

“The reason they had the protest was against the importation of unregulated and possibly unsafe beef and other meat from South America.

“To find out that, in his capacity as CEO of Dawn Farm Foods, Mr Murrin was using this same unregulated beef in food products his company was producing, shows that he has compromised the integrity of the Beef industry, and he should step down immediately or be removed by the Minister. 

“I am asking Donegal MD to support the farmers of Donegal and the Northwest and contact the Minister to ask for Mr Murrin’s immediate removal as Chairperson of Bord Bia and be replaced with a chairperson who is independent of the large Beef processors and will better represent all stakeholders, including the small and medium-sized beef and sheep farmers, as we have here in South Donegal.”

Cllr Michael Boyle followed: “Can I second what Cllr Brogan has said? He should have gone a long time ago.”

Donegal MD Cathaoirleach, Micheál Naughton, told Cllr Brogan that he would have to bring a motion in.

Cllr Brogan responded: “It is not a motion, it is a suggestion.”