New proposals imperil beef industry

WORLD trade talk proposals by European Commissioner Peter Mandelson will ruin the Irish beef industry, Paul Bradford, Fine Gael agriculture spokesperson in the Seanad, has warned.

He said facts and figures emerging from Brussels indicate that proposals by Mr Mandelson will result in the virtual closedown of the industry and put 60,000 beef farmers out of work.

“This would be a calamity for the Irish economy and for Irish agriculture. We cannot allow one commissioner on a solo run to ruin the Irish beef industry,” he said.