Bord Bia: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-04
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Martin Heydon (FG), Kildare South

I move amendment No. 1:
To delete all words after "further notes that" and substitute the following:
"— the Board of Bord Bia, including the Chair, is made up of 15 members from across all areas of the agri-food sector, and its function is to promote, assist and develop, in any manner which the Board considers necessary or desirable, the marketing of Irish food and livestock;
— the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine estimates that total Irish agri-food exports in 2025 will be a record €21 billion;
— the growth in the value of agri-food exports has been remarkable, increasing from an exports value of €10 billion in 2011;
— beef exports to some 70 countries have increased over the last five years by 40 per cent, from €2.2 billion in 2019 to €3.1 billion in 2024, an increase of €890 million;
— Bord Bia is carrying out its mission to a high standard, making its contribution along with farmers and the wider agri-food industry to the export success of a vital sector;
— the Origin Green programme, supported by the work of farmers' and their participation in Quality Assurance Schemes at farm level, has been integral in providing proof points to international customers of the quality and sustainability of Irish food and drink products, and creating market opportunities for that produce;
— the Board of Bord Bia has discussed the issues raised, and the majority agreed outcome was to support the Chairperson to continue in office, with all of the Board members strongly endorsing the personal integrity and experience of the Chair, and acknowledged that there was no legal or governance issue at play;
— the Chairperson has accepted an invitation to appear at the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food on Thursday 5th February to discuss the issues raised; and
— the Government retains confidence in the Chairperson.".
It is a deep disappointment to me that we are here this evening to discuss this motion. Tonight, a political party is trying to exploit the concerns of farmers for its own narrow interests. We face loads of challenges in agriculture that need to be addressed. Earlier this week I met the European Commissioners for agriculture and budget alongside the Tánaiste and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. On the table for discussion was the EU’s budget for the next seven years and the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. We could have used our time this evening to debate and discuss that because it is critical to the incomes of over 120,000 Irish farms. The clock is ticking on how to make the best use of the time we have now before Ireland assumes the European Presidency, to put the green jersey on and act in the best interests of our farmers.
Earlier today I briefed my Cabinet colleagues on the latest situation regarding the first outbreak of bluetongue in Ireland, a serious development that has the potential to create real difficulties for our farmers during what is an incredibly busy time on farms. We could have had an opportunity this evening to discuss the issue and reassure farmers that everything that can be done is being done to set out the intensive testing and surveillance that is under way and ensure the continued flow of product and livestock, and the steps farmers can take to protect their farms. Instead, Sinn Féin has done what Sinn Féin always does. It has sought to divide, to enrage and to grandstand.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-04/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:35+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-04