Agriculture minister backs Bord Bia chair as board rejects calls for resignation

Minister Heydon and the Bord Bia board back chair Larry Murrin after calls for his resignation over Brazilian beef sourcing

Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin keeps post as agriculture minister Martin Heydon (above) backs him amid Brazilian beef row. Picture: PA

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon has expressed his full confidence in Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin.

The Bord Bia board met on Thursday to discuss Mr Murrin’s position after it emerged that Dawn Farm Foods, where he holds a senior role, had sourced Brazilian beef for the Irish market.

Representatives from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) on the board called for his resignation, citing a potential conflict of interest given Bord Bia’s role in promoting Irish food and enforcing standards on Irish beef, which they argue are not met by Brazilian farms.

However, Mr Murrin is set to remain in his post after the board did not reach a consensus in support of his removal.

In a statement, Mr Heydon backed the embattled chair, saying the board had a "good and thorough" discussion.

"I have been informed that the Board had a good and thorough discussion of the issues covered in the media in recent days, and that the majority, while not unanimous, of Board members, was fully supportive of the Chair continuing to serve," Mr Heydon said.

"I completely understand the emotion for farmers when it comes to issues associated with the integrated nature of food supply around the globe. Recent debates around the Mercosur trade deal highlight Irish farmers unease for imported product from outside of the EU.

"We also must recognise that as a food producing island we export 90% of that food and drink product and we depend on that very integrated trade. The work of Bord Bia is critical to that success."

Mr Heydon said it would be "irresponsible to just follow emotion" following media reports about Mr Murrin's business importing Brazilian beef for use in some of its products.

He added there is an acceptance "by all" that Mr Murrin broke no rules.

"Mr Murrin has built a major Irish food company, with a range of global food brands," Mr Heydon said.

"The company is a significant buyer of Irish inputs and has added significant value to the sector as a whole.

"Mr Murrin has explained that the nature of supply contracts for key customers means that contingencies must be in place to ensure continuity of supply in the unlikely event of supply disruption in Ireland. understand that explanation, and that the supply agreement in question is one which ultimately involves the sale of a very significant amount of Irish produce to an important international customer."

Mr Heydon said his Department and Bord Bia were doing "everything possible to support them".

Bord Bia chief executive Jim O’Toole said the board had a “full, open and considered” discussion about Mr Murrin’s position as chairman, a role he has held since 2024.

Outlining the non-unanimous support for Mr Murrin, he said: “The board was guided by the need to protect the reputation of Bord Bia, Ireland’s agri-food sector and its clients over the longer term, and concluded that supporting the chairman was in the best interests of the organisation and the sector as a whole, including Irish farmers.” 

Mr O’Toole said a report on the meeting and “associated issues” will be provided to Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, who has also expressed support for the chairman “as he has broken no rules”.

IFA president Francie Gorman said the chairman refused to resign and a formal proposal seeking his removal was not tabled at the meeting, as it was deemed a matter for Minister Heydon.

He said: “I made it clear that farmer support is critical to the functioning of Bord Bia.

“What has happened here has had a devastating impact on farmer confidence.

“If Bord Bia is to have any chance of restoring this, then the chair must be removed.” 

ICMSA president Denis Drennan also confirmed he supported a motion of no confidence in Mr Murrin, saying the credibility of Bord Bia had been severely damaged.

Mr Drennan said it was impossible to convince farmers that the level of traceability and standards Bord Bia enforces on Irish farmers could align with the import of Brazilian beef.

“That’s at the heart of farmer anger here and it’s completely justified.” 

He added that farmer anger could have been defused if Bord Bia had provided a “reasonable and plausible explanation” before the meeting.