Farmers from across the Northern Sound region attended a protest outside Bord Bia today.
The IFA is protesting against Bord Bia chairperson Larry Murrin, after it emerged that his company, Dawn Farms' imported Brazilian beef.
Newbliss farmer David Hall the IFA's Animal Health Chair, attended the protest in Dublin this morning.
He believes that Larry Murrin has a "conflict of interest" and that his position is untenable as the head of Bord Bia.
Speaking to Northern Sound today, Mr. Hall said that noted that Mr. Murrin isn't breaking any laws in purchasing Brazilian beef- which has lower standards for antibiotic use.
His concerns centre around the regulations that Bord Bia put on Irish
The Co. Monaghan farmer said that Larry Murrin is "trying to ride two horses."
Mr. Hall explained: "Its not that he is purchasing, its not against the law, there is rules to that effect. As a businessman, he's fully entitled to do what he feels best for his business.
"We feel, that its untenable that he sits then on the board of Bord Bia, which supervises us. They do the on farm inspections, to make sure that all farmers in Ireland maintain those standards and those records.
"We feel that he's trying to ride two horses; by insisting that Irish farmers do everything in a particular way, and at the same time buying product from another market that doesn't have safeguards in place," The Co. Monaghan farmer added.
Local TD Matt Carthy raised his concerns about the situation in the Dáil this morning.
In an address to the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, Deputy Carthy also called for the Bord Bia chair's resignation.
The Sinn Féin TD told the Dáil that the crisis is "of the government’s own making".
Deputy Carthy said: "Tánaiste, we're now nine days into a serious and escalating crisis of confidence at Bord Bia. It is a crisis entirely of the government's own making.
"At the heart of it, is a clear and undeniable conflict of interest. The chair of Bord Bia is also the head of a company importing Brazilian Beef, produced to lower standards, and weaker safety requirements.
"At the same time, presiding over the state agency charged with promoting Irish beef, produced highest standards. The contradiction goes to the core of Bord Bia's credibility and farmers know it.
"Yesterday, the Taoiseach's response to my party leader was confused, evasive, frankly all over the place. Instead of showing leadership, he appeared either unwilling or unable to grasp the clear powers that government holds in relation to this appointment," Deputy Carthy added.
In his response, Simon Harris rejected the call for Mr. Murrin's resignation:
"You've come for a head, and you're not getting one. That is the position of the government of Ireland," the Tánaiste said.
"This is a government that follows due process, that doesn't decide that protest removes people from office. This is a government that listens, a government that engages," Simon Harris added.
