Waterford Council call for resignation of Larry Murrin
Larry Murrin
An emergency motion calling for the resignation or removal of Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin was passed by Waterford councillors this afternoon during their monthly Plenary meeting.
The motion was as follows: "This Council notes with serious concern recent events and believes there is no choice but to ask the Chair of Bord Bia to resign immediately in order to restore public confidence. In the event he fails to do so, this Council further calls the Government and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to intervene without delay and remove him from the position."
29 councillors voted in favour of passing the motion, one voted against, and one abstained.
Cllr Jason Murphy (FF) was the only member who voted against.
Cllr Declan Barry (Ind) abstained.
Similar motions have already been passed in Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford.
Murrin has been at the centre of a storm in recent weeks (READ MORE).
The dispute stems from his company Dawn Farms' use of some Brazilian beef in its meat products. Furthering the controversy is the ongoing Mercosur trade deal debacle.
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) have been staging protests outside the offices of Bord Bia in Dublin demanding the removal of Murrin from his role.
His position has also been the topic of heated discussion in the Dáil, and Murrin himself appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture for questioning last week.
The motion in Waterford was proposed by Cllr Tom Cronin (FF).
"Its unfortunate it has to come to this" he said.
He added that Irish farmers are subject to strict regulations to ensure quality products, whilst Brazilian beef does not fall under such regulations.
He added that clenbuterol, an illegal growth hormone more commonly known as angel dust, is still being used in Brazil and across South America.
Cllr Pat Nugent (FG) shared a similar sentiment, saying: "I have worked in quality assurance on a farm level and i know the rings that Irish farmers are put through. We have huge standards for both beef and dairy. The problem I would see is there are no standards in Brazil."
A farmer of 47 years, Cllr Liam Brazil (FG) added: "Farming here in Ireland is hard with all the Bord Bia inspection, all the red tape, all the rigmarole we have to go through, and here is a man bringing stuff in from another country with no background at all to it. I believe its not right bringing food in from Brazil."
More on this story will be available in next Tuesday's edition of the Waterford News & Star
