This Government has shown us time and again that it is allergic to accountability. The Government has shown us that there is one rule for those on the inside and one rule for everybody else. Larry Murrin is well and truly under the protective wing of the Government. For the head of Bord Bia to be the head of a meat processing company that imports Brazilian beef is simply not acceptable. Surely to God some of the Government backbenchers already recognise that the position is untenable, and the Government needs to recognise the same. It is not just Sinn Féin saying this; farmers right up and down the State are calling it out. Larry Murrin is the head of an agency that markets Irish beef around the world and at the same time he is importing and selling Brazilian beef. The Minister is making a mockery of the position by continuing to pretend not to see the massive conflict of interest that is staring him in the face. His appointment reflects the kind of due diligence we are coming to expect of Fianna Fáil. Last week, the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, said that his Government listens and engages, but it is not listening and not engaging. It is trying to delay and placate, hoping this will all blow over so it can make sure people at the top are protected and will not face any accountability. There is an absolute collapse in confidence in Bord Bia among farmers as a result of this debacle. The loss of confidence is spreading to Government because it is going out of its way to defend the indefensible. It is saying to farmers that their voice does not matter, their concerns do not matter, and it does not matter who is chairperson of Bord Bia and this Government does not think it is important for the chairman of Bord Bia to have the confidence of our farmers. That is an extraordinary position to take. The Minister even started talking down to farmers, saying that they were being misled and do not really understand the situations, and talking about farmers only being upset because they are being tricked. What is this Government trying to do? Is it really to accuse the largest farming organisation in the country of misleading its members so the head of An Bord Bia can be protected? The chair of Bord Bia is the head of a company that imports Brazilian beef. It is produced to lower standards and is subject to weaker safety requirements. Those are the facts. It is black and white. At the same time, the Minister thinks he is fit to chair the State agency charged with promoting Irish beef, which is produced to the highest environmental, welfare and food safety standards, at home and abroad. Only wilful blindness can stop him seeing the conflict of interest here. Farmers are the heart and soul of our agricultural industry. It is their hard graft that delivers good quality food and meats every single day to ever-higher environmental, animal welfare and regulatory standards. They know, and they have lost confidence in the chair of Bord Bia. The Government now needs to do its job and remove him from his position.
Sentiment score: 0.07
Is 10% acceptable? What about 20% or 30% maybe?
Sentiment score: 0.16
You sold out a long time ago, Healy-Rae. You will not be standing in any markets much longer. You sold out the farmers a long time ago.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I do not see you standing with them outside Bord Bia. You sold out.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Beating your chest in the markets.
Sentiment score: -0.46
Why is the Minister facing down farmers now?
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Minister should have moved on this weeks ago.
Sentiment score: 0.00