‘We feel betrayed’ says Mayo farmer at Bord Bia protest outside Leinster House
Farmers angered by revelations surrounding Bord Bia chairperson Larry Murrin gathered outside Leinster House on Thursday, as pressure mounted on him to step down from his role.
The protest follows news that Mr Murrin’s company, Dawn Farm Foods, were importing a percentage of Brazilian beef.
The development has sparked outrage across the farming sector and prompted calls for his resignation from farmers, opposition parties and farming organisations.
Among those in attendance was Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell, a cattle and sheep farmer from Louisburg, Co Mayo, who said the crowd were united in their sense of outrage over the issue.
“There’s anger, and there’s frustration definitely with what’s going on,” he said, speaking outside of Leinster House.
“The farmers feel as if they've been led up the garden path and that they’re being mistreated by the Government and by the likes of Bord Bia.”
Cllr Maxwell said Bord Bia itself does important work in promoting Irish beef, but insisted the issue was centred on leadership.
“He’s the chairman, and to find out that [his company] was importing a percentage of Brazilian beef – it’s like a sense of betrayal,” he said.
As a farmer himself, Cllr Maxwell said he understands first-hand the standards Irish farmers are required to meet.
He spoke of the traceability system in place and said farmers take pride in the regulations they adhere to.
“We have the finest beef in the world, and we have the strictest regulations and laws to adhere to in order to produce the best in the world,” he said.
“We have to go through all these hoops and regulations, and there’s these fellas who seem to be able to do what they want,
“There is no consideration for the Irish farmer or the Irish farming family - that's where the frustration is, we feel betrayed,” he explained.
Cllr Maxwell and other protesters listened as the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food questioned Mr Murrin inside Leinster House.
“Today we saw the issue being side-stepped. He was asked questions from numerous different political parties, and he was cool as a cucumber in his answers.
“It’s the conflict of interest that really annoys people, and he couldn't give a straight answer,” he said.
Cllr Maxwell said his concerns extend to public health and safety, noting the use of hormones and additives in some imported produce that are banned under EU law.
It’s the health of our nation that we are talking about
He warned that if the Mercosur trade agreement comes to fruition, the health of the Irish consumer would be at risk.
“We are talking about the health of our people, it is healthy food and healthy produce we are talking about - from farm to fork. Our produce is the best in the world, everything is traceable,” he explained.
He drew a comparison between the potential public health risks posed by importing Brazilian beef and the public safety concerns raised during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
“It’s the health of our nation that we are talking about,” he said. “If you go back to 2020, for instance, when Covid was raging, and Golfgate happened.”
“Both Dara Calleary and Phil Hogan had to resign because it was a threat to the health of our nation,” he said.
Mr Calleary was Minister for Agriculture at the time, while Mr Hogan was serving as European Commissioner.
Both resigned, along with Fine Gael senator Jerry Buttimer, following their attendance at an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner at the Station House Hotel in Clifden, Co Galway, which breached public health restrictions.
“And fair play to Minister Dara Calleary, he stood up, and he knew there was a conflict of interest and he resigned immediately, and I commend him for that,” Cllr Maxwell added.
He said those involved in Golfgate had endangered public safety and argued the same principle applied in the case of Mr Murrin.
“This man should do the same thing,” he stated. “The same rules should apply here.”
Cllr Maxwell said this sentiment was widely shared among those protesting outside the Dáil.
“Farming families and farming organisations will be forced to continue this protest until it is resolved - it’s a sad situation because those farming families should be at home getting ready for the lambing and calving season - it's coming up to the busiest time,” he explained.
“These people feel so strongly they are going to protest this until it is sorted,” he added. “And the only sorting on this is to get that man to resign.”
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.