Waterford councillors to call for resignation of Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin
Larry Murrin was appointed as Bord Bia chair in 2024
Waterford councillors are set to propose an emergency motion calling for the resignation of Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin at the Council’s plenary meeting on Thursday, February 12.
The motion stipulates that if Mr Murrin refuses to resign, the Council will further call on the Government and the Minister for Agriculture to remove him from the position immediately.
Mr Murrin has found himself embroiled in political heat, as reports emerged that Dawn Farms- the company Mr Murrin chairs- imported Brazilian beef into the Irish market.
The news comes amid a wider debate on Ireland’s role in an EU trade deal with the South American trade bloc Mercosur.
Irish beef farmers have said the deal, which will see an increase of lesser-regulated South American beef in the EU market, poses an existential threat to their business.
Lawmakers across the political spectrum have argued that Mr Murrin’s import of Brazilian beef constitutes a direct conflict of interest while he’s the leader of the Irish Food Board, Bord Bia.
The motion’s eight signatories are: Fianna Fáil’s John O’Leary, Tom Cronin, Adam Wyse and Eamon Quinlan, Fine Gael’s Liam Brazil, Seanie Power and Pat Nugent, as well as Independent councillor Declan Clune.
Micheál Martin and Simon Harris, the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, have both publicly backed Mr Murrin.
It’s understood that there are only eight signatures for the emergency motion, there is further support for the cause across the Council.
A similar motion has been proposed across other local authorities. Carlow and Wexford both passed a motion calling on Mr Murrin’s resignation on Tuesday, February 10.
