Mandelson still 'cold and clinical' after IFA protest
Forty-eight hours after 5,000 farmers took part in the Dublin city centre protest and called for Mr Mandelson's removal from office because they claimed he had exceeded his negotiating mandate, IFA president John Dillon met with the EU's chief negotiator in Brussels and came away unimpressed.
Mr Dillon said he conveyed to Mr Mandelson the anger of Irish farmers over his proposals and pointed out to him that these would devastate Ireland's family farm structure, with incomes falling by 36%.
The IFA leader said afterwards that Peter Mandelson was cold and clinical, had no regard for rural Ireland and no answers and no gains to show for the 46% cut in EU import tariffs that he had offered in the negotiations.
"All products would be affected and the proposed cuts would be catastrophic for beef, sugar beet, milk and sheep," he said.
Mr Dillon, who also met with Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, said the IFA calculated that the EU proposals would lead to an output loss of €1.2 billion per annum that would result in 50,000 job losses between farmers, the food industry and the supply side of agriculture.
"It is now quite clear that Commissioner Mandelson is taking his instructions from British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London. It is time for the Taoiseach to stand side-by-side with the French to block this sell out," he said.
Mr Dillon said Commissioner Charlie McCreevy understood the gravity of the situation and he was depending on him to defend Ireland's interests.
Meanwhile, Martin Territt, the director of the European Commission in Ireland, said agreement on world trade is essential for Irish prosperity.
The EU proposals bridge the different positions tabled by other members of the World Trade Organisation.
These proposals must unlock immediate progress in other areas of the Doha negotiations, particularly, trade in industrial products and services, which are crucial to the Irish and broader European economy.
"The EU proposals are fully conditional on satisfactory movement in other areas of the negotiation. The offer is within the European Commission's mandate given to it by the Council of Ministers, representing the 25 governments of the EU Member States.
"We need progress on agriculture in the WTO talks. But we also need progress on trade in industrial goods and services.
"An agreement on all three strands in Hong Kong will benefit Ireland and the EU as a whole and will be a significant boost for developing countries."
On agriculture, Mr Territt said agreement will mean new challenges but also new opportunities for EU farmers.
"The Union's offer is not a giveaway. Other countries will have to reform their trade-distorting export programmes.
"So there is no question of opening up the floodgates to cheap imports.
"There are a series of strict conditions to our offer," he said.
