There was a new audio-visual system in place for the Plenary Council meeting for February. The new system includes monitors above the executive table and cameras that focus on the active microphones.
There were some amused looks up to the new monitors as the meeting began with an emergency motion read by Tom Cronin. The motion concerned Larry Murrin, who is both CEO of Dawn Farm Foods and the Chair Person of Bord Bia.
Bord Bia is the state agency that regulates quality insurance in Irish food as well as promoting, facilitating and developing markets for Irish food, drink and horticulture producers worldwide.
Controversy erupted recently when it emerged that 1% for the Beef which Dawn Farm Foods used came from Brazil. This is seen by some as a serious conflict of interest, as Mr Murrin is charged with imposing strict policies on Irish beef producers in one part of his professional life, while also potentially proofing from beef produced to an inferior quality in a competing market within his own business.
Fianna Fáil’s Tom Cronin began his address by saying, “It is unfortunate that it has come to this.”
The motion states “That Waterford City and County Council notes with serious concern the conflict of interest involving Larry Murrin, Chair of Bord Bia, which undermines public confidence in a State body.
This Council calls on Mr. Murrin to resign immediately as Chair of Bord Bia.
“In the event that he fails to do so, this Council further calls on the Government and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to intervene without delay and remove him from the position.”
A matter of standards
In explaining why Councillors should support the motion, Cllr. Cronin, who is a farmer himself, welcomed the presence of the IFA in the chamber, and explained the kind of production standards that he has experienced.
“When you put a needle tag on your calf, there is a sample taken from the ear…that has to go to a lab, in our case, out in West Waterford, in Cappoquin and all that’s recorded through the Department of Agriculture and so on.
“That animal can be traced back to the farm. We can also trace the mother and father of that animal. That’s the kind of regime that we are going through.”
Cllr. Cronin went on to explain that the hormones which can be used in Brazilian beef simply have no place in the Irish supply chain. “That substance cannot be used in Ireland. And if it was traced in an animal in Ireland, that particular farmer would be brought to court and he or she would lose their tag number and they would never be able to get it back. So the penalty is severe.
“That’s why I can honestly say there was nobody using those chemicals in Irish beef. The people that eat Irish beef will not eat beef any better than what you will get with a Bord Bia stamp, produced in Ireland, brought up and reared grass fed.”
Finally, Cllr. Cronin wanted to explain that the Brazilian beef used by Dawn Farms had not entered Irish markets.
The Vote
A dispute erupted in the chamber when Sinn Féin Councillor Pat Fitzgerald insisted that the vote was not simply taken as unanimous, as he argued there should be a roll call meaning Councillors would have to commit their names to paper, be they For or Against the motion.
This seemed to be taken as a pedantic move, with some comments of frustration. At first Mayor Seamus Ryan was inclined to refuse the request for a roll call, but having checked the standing orders, it was understood that the request was valid and should be adhered to.
It transpired that the motion was not passed unanimously. In the end it was 29 For, 1 Against, 1 Abstain and 1 Absent. Cllr. Jason Murphy issued the sole vote Against, while Cllr. Declan Barry had voted to Abstain. The Munster Express spoke to both Councillors about their decision.
Speaking on the matter, Cllr. Jason Murphy said, “My position is very simple and straightforward. While I understand and might agree with the sentiment of the motion, I don’t think Waterford City and County Council have any place calling for resignations like this.
“Bord Bia have a board of management in place. Let the board do their job. Fundamentally I think this is a matter for Bord Bia.
When asked if there would be any issue with him voting against a motion brought by a member of his own party, Cllr. Murphy said, “not at all. This is a free vote which is completely normal. Other parties might impose a whip on things like this, but Fianna Fáil doesn’t.”
Talking to The Munster Express after the meeting, Independent Councillor Declan Barry said, “I listen to the motion today calling for the resignation or removal of the Chairman of Bord Bia but I personally think that’s a matter for either the Minister for Agriculture or the board itself to make that decision.
“I wouldn’t say I don’t know enough about it, I do, but I don’t think it is something that us as Councillors should be doing. It’s the Boards decision or it’s the Minister’s decision and I’d like to leave that in their capable hands.”
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
