Laois councillor warns against Mercosur beef deal

A Laois councillor is urging local TDs and MEPs to vote against the upcoming Mercosur trade deal between the EU and South America.

Cllr Aisling Moran from the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District, warns that the deal will "decimate" the Irish beef industry, with cheaper imports of meat.

She spoke on it at the November meeting of Laois County Council.

“The Mercosur deal has the potential to decimate the beef industry, by allowing cheap imports," she said.

"I went to buy meat, it was €25 for a lump of beef. If you allow this in we will have meat that is not to the same calibre,” she said.

She claimed that Irish beef is also less environmentally damaging.

"Not all cattle farmers are using fossil fuels but forests are being ripped out of the Amazon.

"I ask all our TDs and MEPs to vote against this. Honour the election promises they made," Cllr Moran said.

The Irish Farmers Association is also against the deal, led by its president, Laois farmer Francie Gorman.

The IFA chairman is another Laois farmer who is also campaigning against the trade deal. 

Declan Hanrahan is a beef farmer from Borris-in-Ossory.

He is concerned around the lack of "effective safeguards" for Irish farmers in relation to the deal. He said the trade deal is universally opposed by farmer organisations, consumer groups and environmental groups.

"This is indicative of the lack of safeguards for the environment, protection for markets and protection for farmers," he said.

Read also: Laois farming business turned down for plans amid concerns

The deal establishes one of the world's largest free-trade zones, eliminating 91% of tariffs on EU exports including cars to the Mercosur group of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It also significantly reduces duties on key imports, including beef, poultry, sugar, ethanol, and soybeans. EU exports to Mercosur were €56 billion in goods in 2023 and €28 billion in services in 2022.