Farmers seek to ‘rein in’ trade plans

THE Irish Farmers’ Association yesterday urged European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso to “rein in” what it described as Peter Mandelson’s destructive proposals relating to agriculture at the world trade talks.

The call, also directed to the Taoiseach, followed a tense meeting in Brussels between Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan and Mr Mandelson, who heads EU’s negotiating team.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said Ms Coughlan failed to secure any commitments from Mr Mandelson, but she was forthright in stating there were no gains for Ireland in the proposals.