A sit-in protest at Bord Bia ends following a promise of rev

A long-running sit-in protest at Bord Bia has ended following a commitment for an independent review.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said it had been protesting at Bord Bia's offices since January 26 as part of a dispute with the state agency charged with promoting and enforcing standards in Irish food.

Five people had been occupying the lobby of the building since February 3.

Five farmers have occupied the building for 28 days with a rolling 24-hour protest outside for 36 days

Francie Gorman, IFA

Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin has faced calls to step down after revelations that his company Dawn Farm Foods sourced "less than 1%" of its beef from Brazil last year for contingency planning in a contract.

Bord Bia

Mr Murrin appeared before a committee earlier this month and said that while his company mostly buys from Irish farmers, he needed to demonstrate that Ireland can import beef from somewhere else as part of contingency planning.

He said allegations of a conflict of interest are "false" and "driven" by social media.

Members of the Irish Farmers´ Association protest outside the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon´s constituency office in Newbridge, Co Kildare (IFA/PA)

The Bord Bia board agreed to an independent expert-led governance review into its operations during a meeting on Monday.

Mr Murrin is to stand aside from chairing board meetings for the duration of the review, however he is to remain as chairman.

Minister for Agriculture Martin

IFA president Francie Gorman said five "heroic" farmers occupied Bord Bia for 28 days.

"IFA had put a proposal to the board 10 days ago that identified seven strands that should be examined and that the chair would step aside while these are being considered. This was the basis of today's outcome," he said.

"IFA has agreed to stand down their protest until the review is complete and while Larry Murrin is not chairing board meetings.

It is now time to come together to support the essential work of Bord Bia, which delivers important benefits for farmers and the agri-food sector as a whole

Minister Martin Heydon

"Five farmers have occupied the building for 28 days with a rolling 24-hour protest outside for 36 days.

How it all adds up

"These farmers are heroes. They have sacrificed so much for their fellow farmers as have those who have kept a 24-hour rolling protest going outside."

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon welcomed the agreement at the board meeting called to discuss the current impasse.

"I am pleased that my proposal for an independent governance review of the board of Bord Bia has been accepted and that the ongoing protest has been stood down," he said.

"Larry Murrin will remain as chair of Bord Bia and as agreed by the board and the chair in the interests of moving forward, during the period of the review scheduled board meetings will be facilitated by another current board member."

Mr Heydon added: "Bord Bia are also progressing a new Farmers Forum which will provide an opportunity for renewed engagement between farmers and Bord Bia.

What to expect

"It is now time to come together to support the essential work of Bord Bia, which delivers important benefits for farmers and the agri-food sector as a whole."

IFA had put a proposal to the board 10 days ago that identified seven strands that should be examined and that the chair would step aside while these are being considered. This was the basis of today's outcome.

Putting it in context

Costs, supply and public patience all move at different speeds, and the friction between them is where most food-industry stories actually begin.

What to remember

A long-running sit-in protest at Bord Bia has ended following a commitment for an independent review
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said it had been protesting at Bord Bia's offices since January 26 as part of a dispute with the state agency charged with promoting and enforcing standards in Irish food
Five people had been occupying the lobby of the building since February 3
Five farmers have occupied the building for 28 days with a rolling 24-hour protest outside for 36 days
Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin has faced calls to step down after revelations that his company Dawn Farm Foods sourced "less than 1%" of its beef from Brazil last year for contingency planning in a contract

By the numbers

IFA president Francie Gorman said five "heroic" farmers occupied Bord Bia for 28 days
"Five farmers have occupied the building for 28 days with a rolling 24-hour protest outside for 36 days

Common questions

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