IFA ends 28 day sit-in protest at Bord Bia headquarters

The end to the recent impasse between the Irish Farmers Association and Bord Bia has been welcomed by the Minister for Agriculture.

A 28 day sit-in-protest at the Irish food board’s headquarters ended last night after agreement that a ‘governance review’ will take place into matters raised by the IFA in recent weeks.

IFA President and Laois man Francie Gorman said that a full governance review of Bord Bia will examine issues that have come to light during the controversy relating to Chair Larry Murrin.

It’s understood the Board will continue to meet during the review, but Larry Murrin will step aside from chairing the meetings which will instead be chaired by another board member.

IFA had put a proposal to the board ten days ago that identified seven strands that should be examined and that the Chair would step aside while these are being considered. This was the basis of today’s outcome.

IFA has agreed to stand down their protest until the review is complete and while Larry Murrin is not chairing board meetings. Five farmers have occupied the building for 28 days with a rolling 24-hour protest outside for 36 days.

“These farmers are heroes. They have sacrificed so much for their fellow farmers as have those who have kept a 24-hour rolling protest going outside,” Mr Gorman said.

Minister Martin Heydon issued the following online;

Irish Farmers Journal political correspondent, Pat O’Toole was at Bord Bia headquarters when the protest was stood down – he says there appears to be a sense of relief on all sides; “Relief that it’s over, relief that you know people should be on same side on things, especially issues like CAP reform and achieving a reasonable CAP budget, namely the Minister and the farm organsations, that they’re on the same side, that Bord Bia which is so key to farmers, are back on the same side, so I think relief is the overriding emotion”.