IFA Resolute as Bord Bia Protest Heads for Second Week

The IFA National Council met this afternoon and passed a unanimous resolution that the protest outside Bord Bia will continue until the Chair resigns or is removed.

The protest started last Monday and will enter its sixth day tomorrow.

The National Council granted full authority to the National Officers’ Committee to take whatever action is needed to advance our campaign.

The Council noted the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon made some outrageous accusations against IFA under Dáil privilege this week, which reflect very poorly on him as Minister. 

IFA President Francie Gorman said, “The National Council were very angry about some of the comments by the Minister which were designed to undermine our democratic association. I have never seen farmers so resolute on an issue and they will not be distracted by these attempts to smear the work of the organisation,” he said.

“The Minister has to see the damage that the Chair is doing while he remains in office. It was Minister Heydon himself who rushed to judgement in advance of the board meeting by publicly supporting in the Chair which was a clear signal to board members,” he said. 

The IFA President said the strong turnout since Monday is an indication of the depth of feeling among farmers.

“It is untenable that farmers would face stricter QA controls and the Chair of Bord Bia thinks it’s acceptable to import Brazilian beef which is nowhere near those standards. Larry Murrin should do the right thing and leave his role. Only then can confidence be re-built in Bord Bia,” he concluded.