ICSA to hold Mercosur protest outside Leinster House

A protest calling on politicians to take action on the Mercosur trade deal will be held outside Leinster House by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) on Thursday 13 November at 11am.

Announcing the protest, ICSA president Seán McNamara said while the Government said it is against Mercosur and has raised concerns in Brussels, “it has been little more than going through the motions”.

“Meanwhile, Europe is ploughing ahead with a deal that will swamp our market with cheap beef from South America and destroy the viability of Irish suckler and beef farming.

“These so-called ‘safeguards’ that have been spoken about are nothing more than a smokescreen - promises that only kick in after the damage is done.

“We now know that beef prices could fall by up to 45% in five years, and still the EU would not be obliged to act. How is that protection? It is a green light to wipe out Irish family farms,” McNamara stated.

The ICSA president added that rural communities are built on beef production and will pay the price, “while South American imports flood our shelves with weaker climate rules, lower traceability and poorer animal welfare standards”.

ECJ

Some Irish MEPs calling on the European Court of Justice (ECJ) this week to intervene in the trade deal was a strong stance to take, but not all backed this call, McNamara said.

“If some of our representatives can take decisive action like this, why aren’t the rest doing the same? And why aren’t Government, MEPs and ministers uniting to defend Irish farming? If they truly believe Mercosur is bad for Ireland, they must stand firm and stop it.

“Our politicians claim to stand with farm families - well now is the moment to prove it. Allowing this deal through while proclaiming support for rural Ireland would be pure hypocrisy. This Government must stop playing games with our future.

“Every farmer who wants to protect their livelihood should join us. Together we must send one clear message: no to Mercosur - yes to the future of Irish farming,” he added.