Bord Bia Problem

Murrin can make his co money moving food products here and there on the International markets. This inevitably means he is sometimes using a cheaper and inferior product competing with QA Irish product. That's the conflict of interest at the centre of his untenable position as Charman of Bord Bia.

Was the 1% figure that was put into the public domain ever verified? I note he would not say how many tonnage it was for commercial reasons so i don't think we can trust this 1% figure.

I have a feeling that Murrin in advance of mercosur was getting ahead of the rest of his competitor's in opening up supply chains for Brazilian beef once mercosur was passed. He needs to be asked how many times he flew to Brazil on the bord bia dime.

Having watched the committee meeting, it’s clearly obvious that Larry will be digging in and aiming to outlast the current protest. He was very well prepared for this. 

I really do question the moral ethics of his company Dawn Farm Foods, on numerous times he keep referring that there contracts are to supply the business markets ( not to the consumer) thus, by his own reckoning the Bord Bia quality assurance mark is irrelevant to the company’s strategy. 

If I was there the questions I would liked to has asked are 

1. Regarding the 1% contingency for food supply security, what was the geo political event in 2024 that triggered Dawn Farm Farms need to initiate it?
2. When the 1% contingency plan was activated, what prevented Dawn Farm Foods from sourcing the raw material needed within the Irish market? 
3. Brazil was chosen as the country to supply the 1%, but did Dawn Farms actively engage in critical analysis studies in other beef exporting county’s to determine its feasibility?
4. Has Dawn Farms Foods in the past or present used within negations for business to business supply contracts the brand image of Bord Bia to its advantage in securing such contacts? 

What’s my own take on it?, Larry is business oriented, this stunt has been long in the planning, its about gaining a foothold and establishing relationships with South American producers to take advantage of the Mercosur trade deal proceeding. This will allow more access to a cheeper raw material while using the Bord Bia brand to do the heavy lifting in promoting his company world wide.

He maintains that Brazilian beef imported was to minimise risk to its supply contacts, but any well run PFC company would not risk such supply security with a county like Brazil that has well documented history of political and economic instability.

What’s the solution, he steps aside from Bord Bia or us as Irish farmers do not allow any of our quality assured product be traded to a company who outsource raw material from the EU when said country is self sufficient. Especially to the tune of 700%.

All farmers should exit bord bia membership regardless of consequences.

NNo.Membership their body is pointless

A coordinated effort which has financial pain has impact.

Plodding on in acceptance mode won't change anything

You’re 100% right on this, let him produce the contract and show their methodology in picking Brazil. We as farmers know too well about contingencies when it comes to making extra silage for a long winter. Do you think 1% wound cover an unplanned shock with weather ect, not a hope. So how can Dawn Farms confidently continue supply contracts if an extreme disease out break or if war unfolds in Europe with just 1%. I can’t get my head around it.

In Nov 2025, minister Heydon was quoted saying
“According to the most recent Global Food Security Index, Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world and ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security.”

So why in gods earth is any company looking else where? Is Willie Aird right, is it all about making more money.

I know the focus is on removing Larry Murrin from Bord Bia, but Dawn Farms needs a forensic investigation. It doesn’t sit right with me. Apologies for the long posts

How come no one has mentioned the few that's locked in the bord bia offices. No food on occasions. Very quiet here about it. Looks commendable they are doing something rather than talking about problems.

You’re right though Bass, the reality is it won’t happen. It’s just my opinion Dawn farms secured said contact based on the strength of Bord Bia’s branding and the beef we produce, not because they promised an agreement to a dubious contingency supply. 

Should they have thrown up the contact?     You’d have to say yes, how could the negotiations lead to this one point. Dawn Farms has been in a privileged position of having access to any amounts of our globally recognised beef.

If a company is willing to put our brand image at jeopardy due to the high potential of cross contamination etc,  I as a quality assured farmer am not in agreement of them accessing to Irish beef. 

There should be no mixing of the same raw material product for these contacts. If they’re handling beef from a country where small tonnages into the EU has already proven unsafe, contracts have to re-evaluated. A very dangerous precedent was set no mater how small, a product sourced  with questionable standards when it comes to the health of the consumer is unethical no matter where it’s consumed . Majority of consumers are unwary of the origin when its business to business supply lines.

Hypothetically question, as the EU’s and Irelands beef production output continuous to contract where will the line be drawn in the future if it starts with 1%, do you believe all the other global clients of theres are demanding similar percentages right now in their contacts. 

Extract: "The hormone involved is oestradiol-17β, which is prohibited for use in livestock in the EU because it is considered a "complete carcinogen" with both tumour-initiating and tumour-promoting effects."

Why the cover up by FSAI, protecting the companies. Parents have a right to know whether they fed this to their children and the implications of doing so.