Longford farmers deeply unhappy over controversial Mercosur trade deal

There needs to be clarity from the Government quickly in relation to the Mercosur trade deal as farmers in this county Longford and across the country 'can't move forward', according to local IFA Chairperson John Sheridan.

The Ballinalee native was one of a large number of farming officials who flew over to Brussels for a major protest on Thursday and he has insisted there 'needs to be a level playing field'.

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Up to 10,000 farmers from Ireland and across Europe descended on the Belgian capital to express their frustration and anger over plans to proceed with the Mercosur trade deal and recent cuts to the CAP budget.

Mr Sheridan said the Government's efforts so far have been very disappointing and 'they said in their Programme for Government they were against Mercosur' but their recent actions suggest some indecision.

"We have a major problem with our own Government and they need to come out and either say yes or no [to Mercosur]. It's very disappointing and I think they still haven't made up their mind whether they're going to say yes or no. They are sitting on the fence over it. We need clarity from our Government about what way they are thinking." 

Mr Sheridan said he believes farmers have highlighted their significant concerns, which has made a difference, but they will need to get even more vocal.

"Even if Mercosur does go ahead, what's wrong with Ireland saying no to it anyway? We got a hammering last week over the fisheries, what was wrong with Timmy Dooley getting up and shouting in the place and saying, 'No this has to change'. He didn't, he came back and he was crying about how detrimental it was to our rural economy. We have to start saying no."

Mr Sheridan said almost a 'plane load' of IFA officials travelled to Brussels and the huge number of farmers from across the country and Europe had a positive impact on getting their point across. "I think the European Commission got a bit of a tip on Thursday with all the farmers that turned up in Brussels, there was an unbelievable amount of people from all over Europe."

"You sit at home and you think about what could happen to your farm and you think about what could happen to it and then when you go over there you realise every farmer in Europe is the same, we're all fighting to try and make a living."

Mr Sheridan said it is not a 'level playing field' when it comes to the Mercosur trade deal and the impact it would have on the price of beef here. IFA President Francie Gorman said on Friday that comments by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin which suggested the Government would have to also consider the recent EU Commission decision on the Nitrates derogation as part of their thinking and the overall picture in relation to Mercosur were 'totally unacceptable'.

Mr Sheridan agreed that they should be treated separately and he stated it is very hard to move forward or plan ahead. The Longford IFA chair believes there is some small respite that the Mercosur trade deal is not being signed immediately and he is a little bit more hopeful that there might be a chance the agreement could be pulled.

Meanwhile, Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly has issued a united national call to action, urging farmers, farming organisations, co-ops, agri-businesses, meat factories, feed merchants, rural businesses, rural workers and public representatives of all parties and none to stand together at a national demonstration due to take place in January in opposition to the Mercosur trade deal.

“In the European Parliament I have been working closely with MEPs and farming organisations from across Europe who share the same fears about Mercosur,” Mullooly said. “Farmers in many member states see this deal for what it is – a race to the bottom that sacrifices agriculture, food standards and rural communities for trade headlines. There is a strong and growing bloc of representatives across Europe who believe farmers must be listened to, not ignored."

"That is why I am keen to see European representatives stand with Irish farmers at this national demonstration and send a clear message that this opposition is shared far beyond Ireland. Our councillors and volunteers nationwide will work with representatives of organisations across the country to build support for the protest and to actively encourage attendance across their local communities."

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