Government councillor in Laois calls on Larry Murrin to resign from Bord Bia

A Fine Gael councillor on Laois County Council who represents Portlaoise has called on the Chair of Bord Bia to resign in defiance of the position taken by his party leader, Simon Harris and the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

In a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live Cllr Paddy Buggy said Larry Murrin should in order to bring to an end the impasse which has developed between the Government and farming organisations.

"The longer Mr Murrin remains as Chair the more damage is being done to the reputation of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme,"  said Cllr Buggy, who farms between Portlaoise and Mountmellick.

He said the importance of the Bord Bia QA Scheme is accepted and supported by over 55,000 farmers and over 500 food and agri businesses as an assurance to consumers that the food they purchase is produced to the highest standards and is of Irish origin.

He said it is also critical for the development of overseas markets, which are vital to the Irish economy.

Cllr Buggy said that all farmers are inspected by Bord Bia every 18 months with "a rigorous audit" of every aspect of their farming practices and animal welfare.

Cllr Buggy said failure to comply with Bord Bia standards results in the farmers not being allowed to supply milk or not receive price top-ups for beef. He said the same should be expected of the Bord Bia Chair. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

"As Chair of Bord Bia one would expect that his own company, Dawn Farm Foods, would be fully compliant with the Board Bia QA Scheme however records in the public domain indicate that this company is not eligible for such accreditation. Along with this Mr Murrin’s company has imported Brazilian beef which investigations by the Irish Farmers Journal and the IFA has uncovered the widespread use of substances banned in beef production here in Europe.

"This double standard by the Chair has resulted in a total loss of confidence in the Bord Bia QA Scheme by farmers throughout the country," he said.

The Government has criticised the ongoing IFA protest at the Bord Bia HQ which has been mounted to force Mr Murrin's departure. MORE BELOW POST.

Great crowd from Laois outside Bord Bia tonight on Day 20. Five members still inside. 70,000 members outside supporting them. #unbreakable pic.twitter.com/lcAt1hBSKx

— Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) February 15, 2026

"In order to protect the reputation of the Bord Bia QA Brand, farmers are continuing to protest outside the Bord Bia HQ until Mr. Murrin steps aside. As a small-scale beef farmer myself, I am fully supportive of this action and urge Mr Murrin to do the honourable thing and step aside," concluded Cllr Buggy.

READ ALSO: Government 'can't bully the people of rural Ireland' IFA leader ramps up pressure in Laois on TDs over Bord Bia

The Portlaoise Municipal District councillor attended the recent Laois IFA AGM, where farmers expressed their anger with Mr Murrin and the Government with many backing the IFA protest and the IFA leadership's stance.

READ ALSO: 'Conversation not conflict...but facts matter' - Bord Bia responds Laois anger

Bord Bia has called for dialogue but insists there has been misinformation spread during the row.