Aontú Meath councillor calls for Bord Bia chair to be suspended — ‘He has to go’
A call has been made to the Minister for Agriculture to suspend the chairperson of Irish food board Bord Bia, Larry Mullen, “with immediate effect”.
At the March meeting of Meath County Council, a motion was tabled by Aontú councillor Dave Boyne, who said the request was being made “due to that person’s conflictual behaviour”.
“That person is supposed to be promoting all things to do with Irish food, the quality of Irish food,” Cllr Boyne said.
“That person is off getting meat in from other countries so, in my opinion, he has to go. It’s completely against what he should be doing.”
The motion was seconded by Independent councillor Noel French and was unanimously passed.
Across the country, a number of local authorities have tabled similar motions calling for Mr Mullen’s resignation. Earlier in February, Mr Mullen’s position was ultimately protected in a Dáil Éireann vote after Sinn Féin sought his removal.
Bord Bia, the State agency responsible for promoting Irish food, drink and horticulture producers worldwide, also oversees quality assurance schemes across the sector.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr French said Irish farmers operate to the “highest international standards” for food safety and quality.
He said he was “concerned” about the importation of Brazilian beef, some of which, he claimed, may not meet the same standards required of Irish producers.
“When the integrity of our national food board is being questioned, it becomes a serious issue for the reputation of the Irish food production sector,” he said.
Cllr French added that he supported calls by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) for the chair of Bord Bia to step down.
“I think it is a conflict of interest for the head of a state body charged with promoting Irish food processors to be importing and using Brazilian beef and chicken.”
“Hormones can be used in Brazilian beef, but these substances have been eliminated from the Irish supply for more than 40 years.”
“Irish beef is produced in Ireland and is grass-fed,” he said.