The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) will hold a national protest in Newbridge on Saturday at 2.30pm in what the farm organisation is describing as an escalation in its campaign for a new chair of Bord Bia.

Farmers will assemble at the office of Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to “drive home” the message that Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin has to step down.

It will be the second time that protesters gather at the Minister's office in a month.

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The protest will include tractors and machinery plus farmers on foot, the IFA said.

IFA president Francie Gorman said the proposal emerged from Tuesday night’s meeting in Athy, which was attended by hundreds of farmers.

“The overriding view at the meeting was that Minister Heydon is dragging his feet and doesn’t seem to understand the deep frustration that exists across the farming community,” Gorman said.

'Stonewalled'

The farm body has been protesting at Bord Bia since 26 January. It said that its proposals to “bring about a resolution have been stonewalled at every turn by the Minister and others”.

Gorman said that farmers who spoke at the meeting in Athy felt they have no choice but to confront the Minister at his constituency office in Newbridge.

“Minister Heydon is hellbent on protecting the chair of Bord Bia and in the process he is doing huge damage to Bord Bia. We will use Saturday to direct farmer anger at the Minister’s door,” he said.

Murrin continues to have the backing of the Minister and the Government.

IFA protesters continue to occupy the lobby in Bord Bia and with the office effectively closed to staff, over 140 Bord Bia workers are continuing to work from home or offsite locations for a fourth week.

A Bord Bia spokesperson said that they will remain doing so until the sit-in protest is stood down.