'You can understand farmers’ massive upset': Farmers’ anger over Mercosur justified, Heydon says

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said farmers were understandably frustrated at being asked to compete with imports that do not meet the same standards

IFA president Francie Gorman speaking with  Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the IFA AGM dinner at the Farm Centre in Dublin. Pictures: Finbarr O'Rourke

Speaking at the IFA AGM dinner, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government would continue to advocate strongly on behalf of Irish farmers in relation to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

Referring to proposed market safeguards within the deal, the Taoiseach said the trigger for activating safeguards had been significantly lowered.