Mercosur trade deal is a betrayal of Irish farmers - Mayo TD

A MAYO TD has described the Mercosur trade deal which is currently being finalised by the EU Commission as a betrayal of Irish farmers.

Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh has criticised the controversial trade deal which was recently reached between the EU and four Mercosur countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Farming organisations, particularly in Ireland and France, have voiced major opposition to the deal citing an increased influx of beef from the South American countries at reduced tariffs.

Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue said that Ireland would be scrutinising the text of the agreement 'very closely' but Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh called for the caretaker government to immediately notify the EU of Ireland’s official opposition to the deal.

“The Sinn Féin position is clear, we oppose the Mercosur deal, we have always unconditionally opposed the Mercosur deal and I call on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to do the same.

“Mercosur offers nothing positive for Ireland. The risks to Irish agriculture from the entry of 99,000 additional tonnes of South American beef into the EU market cannot be underestimated. The deal is bad for farming – our most important indigenous sector, bad for our overall economy and disastrous for the environment.

“I have spoken with dozens of farmers in Mayo over the last week as well as farming representatives and they are deeply concerned. Without exception, they are all against this deal.

“The incoming Irish government must work urgently and proactively with countries like France and Poland to block the ratification of the Mercosur deal,” said the Erris-based TD.

The Irish Farmers’ Association president Fancie Gorman responded to the agreement last week, saying that the EU had 'sold out European farmers'.

Deputy Conway-Walsh said that Sinn Féin is standing for farmers and for rural communities, and accused both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of abandoning farmers.

“They have abandoned farmers at every opportunity, telling our farming community that they’re opposed to the deal while doing nothing to stop it. The constant contradiction is insulting to farmers.

“Both farmers and environmentalists in Ireland are united in their opposition to this trade deal. Beef and poultry farmers in particular will be hit hard by this deal and would face a real struggle to remain viable.

“One of the biggest issues seen right throughout the history of agriculture in Ireland is price volatility and successive governments have failed to address it. Time is running out and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must notify the EU immediately to voice their opposition to this rotten deal,” she concluded.