An independent governance review of the board of Bord Bia has endorsed chair, Larry Murrin, with the "vast majority" of board members "very positive" about his performance.

The board of Bord Bia met today Friday (June 12) with senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to discuss this review into the governance of the Irish Food Board.

The review, carried out by Governance Ireland, found no fundamental governance failure but identified weaknesses in board culture, understanding of roles, and governance practices and put forward a list of 22 recommendations to address these.

The independent governance review of the board of Bord Bia had been commissioned by DAFM and was part of the agreement that ended weeks of protests by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) at Bord Bia headquarters earlier this year.

The IFA had called for the resignation or removal of the chair of Bord Bia, Larry Murrin.

The protests had been held by the IFA following confirmation that Murrin's company, Dawn Farm Foods, sourced 1% of its beef supply from Brazil in 2025.

The IFA president, Francie Gorman, had said back in February that the "position of the chair is untenable given that he imports Brazilian beef".

However today the governance review suggests that in general the board of Bord Bia is "very capable, engaged and committed, with a strong governance foundation with solid structures and processes".

"There was a strong view among board members that the right people are on the board and people see real value in the industry perspectives around the table," it detailed.

The governance review also found that the chair, Larry Murrin "is viewed as providing clear leadership, maintaining appropriate focus on governance and strategy".

"The vast majority of board members were generally very positive about the chair’s performance and that was borne out by the high scoring for questions relating to the chair in the survey we conducted with the board as part of this review," it outlined.

Bord Bia board

However the review also highlighted that "recent events placed the board under significant pressure".

As a result the governance review also highlights that "it will be necessary to support the board in rebuilding trust, cohesion and positive dynamics around the boardroom".

Concerns

The review revealed that it was clear that there were concerns that not all board members had clarity at all times regarding roles and responsibilities.

"Interviews with board members highlighted a recurring view that there can be some ambiguity in distinguishing between the responsibilities of a Bord Bia Board member and those of arepresentative of an external sectoral interest," the review states.

"We feel there is a need for clearer and more practical guidanceon the role of board members, particularly where actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest arise."

The central recommendation from the governance review is for clearer guidance, stronger training, and a more consistent understanding of directors' responsibilities.

According to the governance review before the "particular issue arose" - i.e., the IFA protests over the role of the chair - it found that "the evidence points to this being a highly effective board".

It stated: "The feedback from board members do not suggest a board lacking commitment or seriousness.

"The most useful learning is about ensuring that, before the next difficult moment arises, all board members have a shared and practical understanding of their duties, the rules of engagement, the procedures available to them, and the standards expected of them as members of a state board".