Sector bites back at Corrigan jibe
Richard Corrigan. Photo: Getty Images
Tuesday May 12 2009
Celebrity chef Richard Corrigan was left with egg on his face this week after he called for the abolition of Bord Bia.
As Bord Bia defended its position on national airways on Friday, farming organisations were quick to support the authority responsible for the promotion and marketing of Irish food.
The controversy arose when Mr Corrigan called a press conference at his Bentley's restaurant in Dublin on Friday calling for the abolition of the marketing outfit.
Mr Corrigan criticised the bord's quality assurance scheme because he said it does not ensure products are Irish.
He said the bord should be abolished or, at least, there should be a radical rethink about how it promotes Irish food in Ireland.
He also criticised authority's food quality assurance schemes, saying they did not ensure that products were Irish or GM-free.
ICMSA president Jackie Cahill criticised Mr Corrigan's remarks as "inaccurate and unjustified".
"Over a long period, Bord Bia has demonstrated a consistent ability to respond professionally and effectively to changing marketing situations and to different crisis," Mr Cahill said.
"The rapid response of Bord Bia to the recent problem in the pig meat sector was a good example of the adaptability and proactive approach of Bord Bia and it was simply not fair to overlook this performance."
The Craft Butchers of Ireland said Mr Corrigan's attack was paramount to "an act of sabotage against the Irish food industry" and was simply "an exercise in opportunistic self-promotion based on a spectacular degree of ignorance".
Craft Butchers chief executive Pat Brady, said: "It is a pity that he does not appear to have the same respect for ingredients when it comes to publicity as he does in his kitchen."
The IFA said Bord Bia's quality assurance schemes were essential in securing premium market access for top quality Irish food produce in 160 countries.
- Majella O'Sullivan
