Macra president hits out at Government over Mercosur indecision

The president of Macra has aimed strong criticism at the Irish Government for its ongoing lack of a clear and decisive position on the Mercosur trade agreement.

Leader of the young farmers’ organisation, Josephine O’Neill, also expressed deep concern about the potential consequences of the proposed EU–Mercosur trade agreement for Irish agriculture.

“The Mercosur agreement poses a very real threat to Irish farmers, particularly to the beef and poultry sectors that are already under immense pressure.

“Allowing increased imports of agricultural produce from countries operating to vastly different standards undermines the livelihoods of family farms and weakens the integrity of Irish and European food production,” she said.

O’Neill added that Irish farmers are held to some of the highest environmental, animal welfare and traceability standards in the world, while Mercosur countries are not required to meet equivalent criteria.

“This is not a level playing field. Irish farmers are being asked to do more every year, more regulation, more compliance, more environmental ambition, yet they are expected to compete with imports produced to standards that would not be permitted here,” she stated.

The Macra president added that her organisation is particularly concerned about the long-term impact the agreement could have on young farmers and rural communities.

“Young farmers are being encouraged to invest in their futures, to take on farms and to innovate.

“However, trade deals like Mercosur send the opposite message; that their efforts and standards can be undercut overnight. This threatens not only farm viability but the social fabric of rural Ireland,” O’Neill said.

“To date, the Government has failed to take a strong, unambiguous stance against this agreement. Warm words of concern are not enough. Farmers need to know whether their Government is prepared to stand up for them at European level,” she added.

O’Neill said Macra is calling on the Government to clearly oppose the Mercosur agreement in its current form and to prioritise the protection of Irish agriculture, food standards and rural livelihoods.

“Trade policy must be coherent with our climate goals, food safety standards, and the future of family farming. Anything less is a failure to rural Ireland,” the Macra president said.