Larry Murrin has told the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture that he remains fully committed to his role as chair of Bord Bia, despite mounting pressure from farming organisations for him to step aside over his company’s use of imported Brazilian beef.
Mr Murrin, who is also chief executive of Dawn Farms, appeared before the committee amid protests by farming groups who argue that Dawn’s imports create a conflict of interest, given Bord Bia’s remit to promote Irish food at home and abroad.
In his opening statement, Mr Murrin said he was taking the controversy “very seriously” and acknowledged the anger among farmers. He said he understood the frustration being expressed and respected farmers’ right to voice their concerns. However, he criticised the ongoing sit-in protest by members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) at Bord Bia’s headquarters in Dublin, saying he did not support the occupation of the agency’s reception area.
Farming bodies including the IFA, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) have called on Mr Murrin to step down, claiming his dual roles are incompatible. They argue that the importation of beef from Brazil undermines Bord Bia’s efforts to promote Irish produce and damages confidence among farmers.
Mr Murrin rejected claims that he is conflicted, stating that his role as chair is to lead the board and ensure its effective governance. He said he has “never been conflicted” in carrying out those responsibilities and pointed to a career spent advocating for Irish food, drink and agriculture in global markets.
Defending Dawn Farms’ sourcing practices, Mr Murrin told the committee that the company supplies cooked meat ingredients to major international food brands and must meet strict requirements around supply security. He said this includes having proven contingency plans in place to respond to potential food crises, disease outbreaks or supply disruptions across Europe.
As part of that contingency planning, Dawn Farms imported less than 1% of its beef from Brazil in 2025, he said. This sourcing, he added, was limited and strategic, and did not diminish the company’s commitment to Irish beef or Irish farmers.
Mr Murrin said he sought dialogue with farming organisations from the outset and offered to meet with the IFA, but claimed those offers were rejected in favour of demands for his resignation.
He warned that the dispute has the potential to cause significant damage to Ireland’s agri-food industry and risks creating the impression internationally that Irish farmers and exporters are not open for business.
