Govt Should Allow Free Vote on Bord Bia Chair

IFA President Francie Gorman said the two main political parties and the independents should allow a free vote on the future of Bord Bia Chair Larry Murrin.

“Government TDs up and down the country have told us that they believe Larry Murrin should not be the Chair of Bord Bia. However, they are being whipped in by their parties to vote for something they do not believe in,” he said.

“This is very short-term thinking by the Government. I can fully understand why we have a whip system for Budgets or legislation, but applying the party whip on an issue like this is wrong,” he said.

“I want to be very clear that the vote tonight will mean nothing if the whip is applied. On a matter like this, TDs should be allowed to exercise their own judgment and to reflect the views of the electorate in their constituencies,” he said.

“If the Minister thinks that whipping his party members in to win this vote is going to solve anything he is very wrong. Bord Bia needs the support of farmers and rebuilding trust with farmers will not start until there is a new Chair,” he said.