IFA criticises Mandelson invitation

AN invitation to EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to an Agri-Vision 2015 meeting when he visits Ireland on March 23 was described by the IFA yesterday as a political misjudgment by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

Padraig Walshe, IFA president, said the attendance at the meeting of Mr Mandelson would be an affront to Irish farmers.

“For the past three years, Peter Mandelson has offered to destroy the family farm structure in Europe to make way for South American ranchers and traders, whose interests he is constantly promoting,” Mr Walshe said.