The position of Larry Murrin as chairman of Bord Bia is totally untenable. He has direct involvement in the importation of substandard Brazilian beef into Ireland. No Irish food processor should be importing this product into Ireland, but the fact that the chair of Bord Bia, an organisation that is tasked with promoting the quality of Irish food around the world, is absolutely outrageous. It is a conflict of interest and it undermines Irish farming. It is an absolute insult to Irish farmers, who have to meet the highest standards in food production. The Government appointed him to this position. It now needs to hold him accountable. It also needs to stop dodging the question: does it have confidence in him and will it remove him from this position?

I think the Sinn Féin proposal might be to disband Bord Bia and just let you lads run the organisation. We have a board at Bord Bia and the way State boards work is very clear. They meet, they look at different issues in relation to corporate governance and then they can provide a report to the Minister. That is happening in real time. It is happening as we meet today.

I believe in due process. I believe in these issues being considered. Conflicts of interest, real or perceived, are important governance issues, absolutely. I think the position adopted by the president of the IFA - have a meeting, ask the questions and then decide - is a far more reasonable and responsible position.