Bord Bia has done some very good work promoting Ireland’s food and drink around the world and protecting the reputation of those exports but that very reputation is built on the work that goes on in cold yards, calving sheds, milking parlours and small farms where people are farming under ever-increasing pressure. Irish food and drink exports are vital to our economy but let us be very clear: there are no exports without farmers. Those farmers are expected to meet the highest standards. They are constantly told that they must do more, from environmental to welfare measures that incur more costs, and all of this is under Bord Bia’s sustainable quality assurance scheme. Farmers do it. They comply and play by the rules. How does the Minister think they feel when they see the chairperson of Bord Bia linked to the importation of Brazilian beef into Ireland? It is a slap in the face to every farmer here. Farmers are furious because they see the hypocrisy, even if the Government does not. Irish farmers are held to gold-plated standards while imports are waved through the door. They are told they must protect Ireland's reputation while the very person charged with protecting the reputation of Bord Bia is associated with undermining it. What has the Government done? It has done nothing. There have been nothing but delays, excuses and circling the wagons. The Government is quick to come down hard on farmers with inspections, penalties and demands, but when it comes to accountability at the top of Bord Bia, suddenly it is missing in action. Farmers ask one simple question. How can they be expected to meet these standards if the leadership of Bord Bia does not even respect them? This comes at a time when farmers are already deeply concerned about Mercosur and the flooding of the market with even more South American imports produced to lower standards. There is one rule for Irish farmers, another for foreign imports and a third for the head of Bord Bia. This is simple. Continuing with the current chairperson of Bord Bia undermines public confidence. It damages Bord Bia and Ireland's reputation as a world leader in high-quality food production. That is why the Sinn Féin motion calls on the Minister to stop hiding behind excuses, to stop ignoring the voices of farmer representatives and farming communities and to use his powers to remove the chairperson from office immediately. Farmers have had enough of double standards, hypocrisy and being treated as an afterthought. They deserve better. Bord Bia must be worthy of the producers it claims to represent and trust must be restored.

Sentiment score: -0.01