Government 'can't bully the people of rural Ireland' IFA leader ramps up pressure in Laois on TDs over Bord Bia

Anger among rank-and-file members of the IFA over Larry Murrin's Bord Bia chairmanship and the Government's support for him was evident at the Laois IFA AGM, where a special debate attracted upwards of 500 farmers from across the county.

Many speakers at the meeting at Abbeyleix Manor told Government TDs in attendance that they fully support the association's national leadership in demanding that Mr Murrin resign over the revelation that his business has imported Brazilian beef to Ireland.

The farmers were also seething with the Government, not just for standing by Mr Murrin but also for how they believe they have been treated and portrayed by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and other members of the Government over the issue.

There was also outrage at the meeting over the treatment of six farmers and IFA members during their occupation protest at the Bord Bia HQ in Dublin, which is now in its second week.

The strength of the feeling among farmers on the issue was also reflected in the huge number of people who gathered in Abbeyleix for the meeting. Just under 50 farmers attended last year's AGM compared to the 500 who thronged the meeting which was attended by the IFA President Francie Gorman and the association's Director General, Damian McDonald.

The Laois branch invited local Government TDs Sean Fleming of Fianna Fáil and Willie Aird of Fine Gael to listen and respond to the discontent.

Mr Gorman made clear to the two Laois representatives that they must tell their leaders that 'they can't bully the people of rural Ireland' on the issue. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Independent TD Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack were also present as were Laois councillors John King, Ben Brennan, Catherine Fitzgerald, Tommie Mulligan, Conor Bergin, Ollie Clooney, Barry Walsh and Paddy Buggy also attended.

Laois IFA Chairman Henry Burns told farmers that the meeting was an opportunity for members give their side of the story. He said the IFA leadership had 'no choice' but to mount a protest at the Bord Bia HQ.  

He said it is very unusual for the IFA to seek a resignation, but the options are clear as far as the association is concerned, which is that Larry Murrin must step down.

"The guy who is in charge of setting the rules broke the rules - it is as simple as that," he said.

Mr Burns said Bord Bia was the last place in the world the IFA would want to protest at, and the association continues to support quality standards. 

The IFA National Livestock Chairperson, Declan Hanrahan from Borris-in-Ossory, was upset that the chair of Bord Bia, which demands high standards from Irish farmers, is importing Brazilian beef.

"It's a disgrace that he would bring that in," he said.

He claimed that the meat was imported for purely commercial reasons, something that is not compatible with being the chair of Bord Bia.  Mr Hanrahan was also angry at how farmers have been 'belittled' by Bord Bia, the Government and Minister Heydon. He also attacked Minister Hildegarde Naughton for attributing a rise in Irish beef exports to Bord Bia and not producers.

"The first rung on the ladder is the farmer," he said. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

He warned that the Government need to be aware of their rural voter base.

"There are a lot of politicans who are going to have to look at themselves and ask - what got me over the line? I will ask them if they lose their seat at the next election, will Larry Murrin ring them up the following morning and say hard luck, that was tough, but you did well by your country, and you did well by Dawn Farm Foods?

"But you will have the farmers to face, and they are the ones who supported this Government and supported everyone across the political spectrum.

"So, I think it is a complete disgrace that that man can remain at the top of Bord Bia and we as farmers supporting it - 57,000 farmers," he said.

He insisted that these farmers have no choice if they want to sell their beef but to be part of the Bord Bia Quality Standards.

Liam Delaney, Laois IFA Vice-Chair, praised the leadership for the position taken and all farmers who have supported the protest in Dublin and elsewhere.

"What's wrong is wrong, it's as simple as that...It is outrageous, and it has to go," he said.

 He was critical of the Government parties' engagement with a recent Sinn Féin Dáil motion calling for Mr Murrin to resign.

"There was a serious motion brought, and they made dirt of it," he said.

Another speaker questioned the morality of Mr Murrin's business position.

"Larry Murrin might not have broken any laws, but what he is doing is immoral. He is substituting the best beef in the world with the worst beef in the world," he said.

He called for Mr Morrin's resignation, adding that all the "decent farmers in the country" want him out.

Seamus Duggan called the situation an "absolute joke".

"His (Mr Murrin's) own company cannot be compliant with the rules he has set," he said.

He was angry at how the IFA protesters at Bord Bia HQ are being treated.

"It is nothing short of disgusting," he said. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Another speaker was concerned as to what shoppers' perception of the products being sold is due to the controversy.

"The politicans better wake up very quickly before the reputational damage of Bord Bia and our product is completely destroyed," he said.

Pat Hennessy said the campaign is unprecedented.

"I never saw such unity in the IFA, and we are going to stick together, and if they want a battle, this is only going to get stronger," he said.

Paul Hyland insisted that Mr Murrin is playing by different rules than he, as Bord Bia Chair, has set for farmers.

"We do not need to apologise for anything. We need to stand firm. We owe it to the six people in Dublin. The crowd here is evidence that this campaign is growing," he said.

He warned that the money and work done by Bord Bia in promoting Irish beef cannot be damaged by the campaign.

"We don't want to burn down our own hayshed. The only people stopping this from ending is with Mr Murrin and the political leaders who have it in their gift to remove this man from his office. We are not going to stop until he is removed," he said.

Another speaker believed that the structures of Bord Bia must be reviewed to protect farmers in future to ensure board members do not have a conflict of interest.

Tom Cushen called on TDs to be more vocal.

"When they come around next (election) time, I hope farmers think of what they have done now," he said.

The IFA President also spoke at the meeting. While he said there has been good engagement with politicians on many levels, he urged the Government politicans present to take a stance.

"You have got to stand up to the leadership in your parties and not allow them to bully the people of rural Ireland," he said to loud applause.

Mr Gorman, who is a Bord Bia board member, said the IFA had sought dialogue with the Government, but said the solution rests in the Department of Agriculture.

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"The Taoiseach and Tánaiste do micro-manage (Government) Departments. This is something that the Minister for Agriculture can sort out if he wants to, but there is no willingness there," he said.

He said how Bord Bia operates is a really important issue for farmers and those occupying the offices are the biggest supporters of the agency.

"The idea that we are not proud of Bord Bia and don't see the importance of it is absolute nonsense. It is just not credible for the chairman of our meat marketing board, who is doing nothing illegal, to bring meat and poultry from Brazil and we still don't know how much he is bringing in," he said.

He said it is not right that the Origin Green logo is being used to give value to Brazilian farmers. 

All of the councillors and TDs voiced their support for the farmers. However, Dep Fleming and Dep Aird stopped short of saying they would vote against a Dáil motion tabled by Sinn Féin.