Fresh proposals aimed at resolving Bord Bia dispute

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has published fresh proposals aimed at resolving the dispute between farming groups and Bord Bia.

It follows a five-hour meeting between farming and agri-food groups at the Department of Agriculture today.

Among the measures are commitments from Bord Bia to revisit the focus on farmer experiences with audits, establish a farmer forum on Quality Assurance Schemes to improve farmer engagement, and launch a dedicated information campaign to better inform the public about the Origin Green and Quality Assurance Schemes.

In addition, Mr Heydon said his department will undertake an initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink and understanding of labelling and food information.

Representatives from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), dairy farmer group the ICMSA, Macra, and Bord Bia were among those attending the meeting.

The IFA and ICMSA, as well as the ICSA, have all called on Bord Bia chairperson Larry Murrin to step down after it emerged last month that his company Dawn Farms has been importing Brazilian beef.

Farmers say this creates a conflict of interest for Mr Murrin, given Bord Bia’s role in promoting Irish food.

Since 26 January, IFA members have been protesting at Bord Bia’s Dublin office over the issue.

They say they will remain in place until Mr Murrin leaves his role.

Following the meeting, Mr Heydon said there was a “detailed and thorough discussion in relation to several specific issues related to Bord Bia, which have been raised in recent weeks.

“The discussion also focused on what can be done to improve the experience for farmers around audits, while ensuring the Quality Assurance Schemes are future proofed to continue to benefit famers and the Irish agri-food sector.

“All participants had the chance to express their views and were heard. I am pleased that stakeholders engaged constructively.

“I have identified from contributions today that there needs to be a renewed focus on farmer experience of the audit and Bord Bia engagement with farmers,” he added.

Speaking after the meeting, IFA President Francie Gorman said Mr Heydon “refused to make any proposal to resolve the substantive issue around the loss of farmer confidence in the Chair of Bord Bia.

“The Minister and Bord Bia’s ‘kick the can down the road’ approach will not resolve this dispute, which is very regrettable for everyone.

“There is a massive disconnect between farmers and the corporate leadership in Bord Bia,” Mr Gorman said.

The IFA President added that he believes farmers’ partnership with Bord Bia in relation to Quality Assurance schemes “is being shattered”.

Proposals don’t go far enough, say ICMSA

ICMSA President Denis Drennan said his association will “take the minister’s proposals away for study and revert in due course”.

However, Mr Drennan said he does not think the proposals go far enough, but said the situation requires full focus and the ICMSA is “happy to give it”.

“We’ll give the proposals the necessary study and then revert with our own detailed proposals to address the current impasse,” he said.

However, the group representing young farmers, Macra, said there were “positive steps towards rebuilding confidence in Bord Bia” at the meeting.

Macra said it “looks forward to continued engagement to ensure that the important issues highlighted in recent weeks are addressed”.

Read more: Government wins Dáil vote on Larry Murrin’s role with Bord Bia