Kilkenny famers central to protest as IFA occupy Bord Bia offices

Farmers occupied the HQ of Bord Bia in an escalation of the dispute over the role of the Chair and his business dealings with Brazil, yesterday.

Kilkenny farmers have been central to the protest, since it began.

IFA President Francie Gorman said the move reflects the deep frustration and anger over the inaction by Bord Bia on this matter.

“It’s over two weeks since I first raised this matter, and over a week since we began our protest outside the Bord Bia office in Dublin. Yet the Chair of Bord Bia and the Government have failed to recognise how this issue is undermining farmer confidence in Bord Bia. Our position has been quite clear on this: the position of the Chair is untenable given that he imports Brazilian beef,” he said.

Francie Gorman said the prolonged nature of this issue over the Chair’s importation of Brazilian beef, and an unconfirmed amount of poultry, is having a significant impact on the standing of Bord Bia. 

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“It will take some time to rebuild confidence in Bord Bia among farmers. For every day that this goes on, it will take longer.  Even at this stage, those who can retrieve the situation should step up and resolve the matter,” he said.

The IFA President said the Minister for Agriculture had been premature in his backing of Larry Murrin. 

“The resolve of our members is very strong. Rarely have I seen such a depth of feeling on an issue. Expecting farmers to reach higher and higher standards, while the Chair ignores them with Brazilian beef, will only engender mistrust. The Chair has to go,” he concluded.