Government must step up to stop Mercosur, says ICSA president
The ICSA protest against the Mercosur Trade Deal outside Leinster House. ICSA president Sean McNamara told the protest the Government cannot preach about climate action while beef from land cleared of rainforests is on track to be incorporated into the EU market.
Following a protest outside Leinster House, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA) have called on the government to step up and block Mercosur.
ICSA president Sean McNamara said if this deal goes ahead, it will destroy the Irish beef sector and devastate rural Ireland.
Speaking at ICSA’s protest outside Leinster House last week, Mr McNamara said the demonstration was about sending a clear and urgent message that farmers have had enough of empty promises when it comes to Mercosur.
He said: "Farmers are sick of being told the Government ‘opposes’ Mercosur while nothing changes. You cannot say you are on the side of farmers while standing idly by in Brussels."
Mr McNamara said the Government cannot preach about climate action while beef from land cleared of rainforests is on track to be incorporated into the EU market. He went on to say the government cannot claim to care about rural Ireland if they are not willing to fight for it.
Mr McNamara said:
"We are told to cut emissions, to do more for the climate, and to meet the highest standards. Irish farmers have done all of that. Yet Brussels is now preparing to flood the market with beef that would never meet our standards. It is a total betrayal.”
He said the so-called “safeguards” being proposed in Brussels are meaningless in practice and offer no real protection for farmers on the ground.
Mr McNamara said: “These safeguards would only come in after cheap imports have already flooded the market and beef prices here have collapsed by more than 45% in five years. By then, the damage would be well done and family farms would be gone.”
“For years, consumers have fought to know exactly where their food comes from and to be sure it is produced to the highest standards. This deal opens the door to imports that do not meet those standards.
"The environmental, traceability and food safety rules are weaker, and that brings potential health risks for consumers. That is not acceptable. Consumers deserve better. They deserve food they can trust.”
Mr McNamara thanked those who came to defend the sector and acknowledged the strong show of unity among farm organisations with members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA), Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and farmers turning up to protest.
