THE Government’s decision to vote against the Mercosur deal will come as a “big relief” to Clare farmers, say local representatives.
On an official trip to China, Taoiseach Micháel Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris have revealed plans to deny the Mercosur trade agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, which would allow import duties to be phased out on 91% of EU goods in exchange for fewer restrictions on goods sold to the EU.
June Dillon TD (Aontú) has warned that the deal would pose a serious threat to Irish agriculture, food standards, and rural communities that would expose Irish farmers to unfair competition from South American beef and poultry produced under standards that would not be permitted in Ireland. Dillon highlighted recent food-safety revelations regarding reports by the Irish Farmers Journal that Brazilian beef on sale in Ireland tested positive for the banned, carcinogenic growth hormone, Oestradiol 17ß.
“Irish beef is a premium product, built on generations of skill, some of the strongest regulations in the world, and a reputation for quality that Ireland enjoys on every major market. Mercosur threatens to replace excellence with expedience.”
Joe Cooney TD (FG) said that he supports balanced trade agreements that strengthen and diversify the Irish economy, but insists that agriculture should never have been included in the deal. “The risks to Irish beef farmers in particular are too great and the safeguards offered do not provide the protection required.”
From a farming background, Cathal Crowe TD (FF) explained that backing farming families was in the Government’s Programme when he signed up for it. He added, “To switch positions would have been a betrayal of the Irish beef sector. I am glad that the position of the Government is now unequivocal.”
Dillon calls on the public to attend the national protest against Mercosur in Athlone this Saturday.
The vote for the Mercosur deal is expected to take place tomorrow in Brussels.
