INHFA calls for a new board make-up and independent chair of Bord Bia

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is calling on the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to re-examine the make of Bord Bia and to ensure that any future Board Chair is independent and not tied to any of our meat processors.

National president Pheilim Molloy stressed the need for a radical overhaul, relating to the governance of Bord Bia, stating the need “to ensure the board is reflective of all interests in the beef supply chain in addition to full transparency when it comes to the interests of board members”.

The recent scandal relating to Bord Bia has Molloy stated “undermined confidence both with farmers and consumers and you have to question the competence of the board especially when we look at previous scandals such as the horse meat scandal in 2013”.

Even since 2013 we have, Molloy continued “seen concerning developments such as the sacrificing of a naturally reared suckler brand in favour of a wider Grass–Fed Beef PGI.

“This despite the fact that €6m was allocated to the promotion and development of the suckler brand.”

The INHFA leader questioned “if this decision would still have been made, if there was a better representation of suckler farmers on the board.”

In relation to recent developments concerning the sourcing of beef from Brazil by Dawn Farm Foods whose managing director Larry Murrin is also chair of Bord Bia, Molloy questioned “what information was made available to the board of Bord Bia regarding this matter.”

The farm leader has also questioned “if there is a legal obligation on the chair of Bord Bia to inform the board of the sources of beef used by his company and if there is, has the board been made aware of this.” Molloy also highlighted the growing anger amongst farmers, many of whom are members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance programme. These farmers have, he said, “gone to great lengths to ensure compliance in a scheme designed to help promote and sell Irish farm products at home and abroad only to discover that the Chair of Bord Bia. through his company Dawn Farm Foods have actually imported beef from Brazil. “

In conclusion, the INHFA leader called for a radical overhaul of the board and the need for an independent chair stating that “it is now up to the minister to act.”