Mayo farmers unhappy with Brazilian beef concerns dismissal

THE Mayo IFA county chairman, John Lynskey, says comments by Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin, reported in the Farmers' Journal, dismissing farmers and their families' concerns about his importation of Brazilian beef as ‘emotional nonsense’, have enraged farmers.

“I was at the protest last week when the Journal went online and farmers who saw it were raging to see their concerns dismissed in this way,” he said.

“These comments show the total contempt Mr. Murrin has for farmers and their families. He has no understanding of the important part farmers play in Bord Bia’s Quality Assurance schemes.

“It’s quite clear that he is out of touch with the farmers who are producing the food,” said Mr. Lynskey.

Mr. Murrin talks about the need to lead, but ignores the leadership shown by various elected farmer officers down through the years who encouraged farmers to participate in QA schemes when they were far from popular, he continued.

“If Mr. Murrin knows anything about leadership, he will know that putting yourself ahead of your organisation is the worst form of leadership,” he said.

Added Mr. Lynskey: “The main emotion farmers are feeling over all of this is anger and the only nonsense is being spoken by the chair of Bord Bia. He should go before he does any more damage.”