Offaly TD calls for resignation of Bord Bia chair

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has demanded the immediate resignation of Bord Bia Chairperson Larry Murrin, stating that his continued tenure is causing serious and ongoing damage to public confidence in the organisation and to Ireland’s international reputation for producing the highest standard beef in the world.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday during a debate on the controversy, Deputy Nolan said the contradiction at the heart of the dispute is now “open, glaring and festering”.

She accused the Government of engaging in “verbal and procedural gymnastics” to avoid confronting the clear hypocrisy and double standards exposed by the revelation that Mr Murrin’s company is involved in importing Brazilian beef into Ireland.

“For years farmers have been vilified by environmental NGOs, coerced, and cajoled by EU regulations and threatened by Mercosur. The Bord Bia issue is the straw that broke the cow’s back.”

“Irish farmers and their representative organisations have completely lost confidence in the Chairperson. Farmers all over the country, including my own Offaly IFA members, simply cannot understand how Bord Bia fails to grasp how untenable Mr Murrin’s position has become.”

“I have repeatedly emphasised that the dispute is not about the volume of imported beef but about the blatant contradiction between Bord Bia’s role in promoting Ireland’s world-class standards and the actions of its Chairperson’s company.“

“We need unity because what is a at stake here is bigger than any one individual.”

“Mr Murrin should do the right, honourable and respectful thing and resign so that a credible replacement can be appointed without further delay,” Deputy Nolan concluded.