Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon To Convene Urgent Talks Amid Bord Bia Dispute

Tuesday, 10 February 2026 15:44

By Emma O'Connor

The Irish Farmers Association and dairy-farmer group the ICMSA - are calling Bord Bia chair to step down.

Agriculture Minister and Kildare South TD Martin Heydon will convene an urgent meeting of agri-food stakeholders amid a growing row between farming organisations and Bord Bia.

The intervention follows mounting pressure from farming groups - including the Irish Farmers' Association and the ICMSA - for Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin to resign.

The calls come after confirmation that Dawn Farms, chaired by Mr Murrin, has been importing beef from Brazil.

Farm representatives argue this undermines confidence in Bord Bia’s mission to champion Irish produce, warning it represents a clear conflict of interest at the top of the State’s food marketing body.

On Saturday, farmers staged a protest outside Minister Heydon's constituency office in Newbridge.

Minister Heydon Office

Protesters said importing Brazilian beef represents what they describe as "hypocrisy and double standards" at a time when Irish farmers are being asked to meet increasingly strict requirements.

Speaking to Kfm News over the weekend, Minister Heydon said: "The work of Bord Bia is really important for our farmers incomes, and I continue to work on the very big issues for Irish agriculture.”

Meanwhile, three local authorities have backed motions for the removal of Mr Murrin as Chair of Bord Bia.

Carlow County Council, Wexford County Council and Wicklow County Council all voted in favour of the motion.

Meanwhile, both the Laois IFA County Executive and the Kildare County Executive received strong support at their meetings last night from political representatives for the campaign to restore farmer confidence in Bord Bia.