The following is a statement from the West Cork Executive IFA branch.

‘When news broke over five weeks ago that the company of the chairman of Bord Bia, Larry Murrin, has been importing beef and chicken meat from Brazil, the reaction from the farming community was one bordering on disbelief.

When a Bord Bia inspector arrives on a farm to carry out an audit, it is widely regarded as probably the most stressful day of the year.

‘The level of detail demanded of farmers, if they are to pass the Bord Bia certification, can be mind-boggling. There was outrage at the revelation that the agency carrying out those audits, whose stated function was to promote Irish produce, could have a chairman whose private business imported produce from a country where the standards of production have been shown to be very lax.

‘There was a general expectation that Larry Murrin would resign immediately. His refusal to do so and the fact that the government supported his stance, incensed farmers.

‘The IFA felt the organisation had no option but to mount a protest outside the Dublin headquarters of Bord Bia. It began on Monday morning, January 26th, and has continued since then, day and night. Five prominent members of the IFA, who gained entry to the building on Tuesday, February 3rd, have continued to occupy it. They have remained there, far from their farms and their families, in defence of what they see as a just cause. Meanwhile, IFA members from all over the country take turns at maintaining a protest outside the building.

‘Like every other IFA executive, West Cork has played its part in supporting the protest. West Cork members have done their stint there on more than four occasions, including an overnight vigil last Thursday night.

‘Leaving their farms at a busy time when cows are calving and ewes are lambing to travel to Dublin to protest on the side of the street in all weathers, is far from the wish list of farmers.

‘However, they would describe their efforts as minor in comparison to the sacrifices of the five members who have been inside the Bord Bia headquarters since February 3rd.

‘In addition to those who did the overnight vigil last week, West Cork has also been represented by Catherine O’Sullivan, Rosscarbery; Corney Buckley, Caheragh; John Beechinor, Clonakilty; Robert Dukelow, Durrus; Seamus Daly, Kilcrohane; Ronald Shorten, Clonakilty; Micheal Looney, Macroom; and Abraham Kingston, Drimoleague.’