Farmers to protest in Brussels

Brussels: THE Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association will protest outside the European Farm Council meeting in Brussels today over the stance being taken in the world trade talks by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

It will call on agriculture ministers to be more aggressive against what it claims is the dismantling of the European beef sector, and to make it clear they are against Mr Mandelson’s concessions.

ICSA president Malcolm Thompson said yesterday that Mr Mandelson “must be deaf,” if he can’t hear the outrage of all European farmers who face the loss of their livelihoods.