Bord Bia Chair under fire as Mayo farmers protest "betrayal"

Aontú’s Mayo TD Paul Lawless has thrown his full support behind farmers protesting at Bord Bia headquarters, joining a growing chorus of voices demanding accountability from the state body tasked with promoting Irish food.

The controversy centers on Bord Bia Chair Larry Murrin, who also serves as chief executive of Dawn Farm Foods, a company that reportedly imports beef from Brazil.

Speaking outside Leinster House, Deputy Lawless pulled no punches in his criticism of what he described as a fundamental conflict of interest at the heart of Ireland's food promotion agency.

READ MORE: Mayo farmers enraged at 'emotional nonsense' comment made by Bord Bia Chair

"There is a significant issue that a state body specifically tasked with the promotion of Irish beef is being led by individuals whose private interests appear to be at odds with the national brand," Lawless stated. "Farmers must be listened to, as their concerns regarding the integrity of the Bord Bia stamp are both valid and urgent."

"Do As I Say, Not As I Do"

The TD highlighted what he called the "staggering hypocrisy" of the current situation, where Irish farmers face stringent Quality Assurance and sustainability standards while the chairman of Bord Bia is allegedly involved in importing beef from countries with different regulatory frameworks.

"Irish farmers are forced to jump through endless hoops for Quality Assurance and sustainability standards set by Bord Bia, while the man at the top is reportedly importing beef from Brazil—a country where standards do not align with our own," Lawless said. "This 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude has rightly enraged the farming community."

The controversy deepened when Murrin's comments to the Irish Farmer's Journal emerged, in which he dismissed farmer concerns about his company's Brazilian beef imports as "emotional nonsense" and called for dialogue to resolve the dispute.

Credibility of Bord Bia Stamp at Stake

Deputy Lawless emphasized that the controversy threatens to undermine the credibility of the Bord Bia quality stamp, which has been built on decades of farmer compliance with rigorous standards.

"It is fundamentally contradictory for a state-appointed chair, whose job is to champion local produce, to be involved in the importation of the very product that undercuts our own farmers," he said. "If the Minister cannot see how this conflict of interest destroys the credibility of the Bord Bia stamp, his judgment is seriously compromised."

The protests by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) reflect widespread frustration within the agricultural sector about what many see as a betrayal of the principles that Bord Bia was established to uphold.

Committee Appearance Scheduled

In what may prove to be a crucial moment for the embattled leadership, both Murrin and Bord Bia CEO Jim O'Toole have accepted an invitation to appear before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine next week.

Deputy Lawless, who will participate in the committee session, confirmed his intention to raise the matter directly. "I will be raising this matter directly during that session to ensure that those at the head of our state agencies are held to account," he said.

The appearance comes as pressure mounts on the government to address what farming representatives view as an untenable situation where the integrity of Ireland's agricultural brand is being compromised by conflicts of interest at the highest levels of the state's food promotion body.

As the controversy continues to develop, the fundamental question remains: can a chair whose business interests include importing the very products he is supposed to be protecting Irish farmers from maintain the trust and confidence of the agricultural community?

For the farmers protesting outside Bord Bia headquarters and their representatives in Mayo and beyond, the answer appears increasingly clear.