Agricultural message to EU

FARMERS, food processors and the broader agri-business sector will send a stern message to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso when he addresses the National Forum on Europe in Dublin Castle today: do not sell out agriculture in the world trade-talks in Geneva.

There will be a three-hour countrywide industry shut-down at farm, manufacturing and service levels in protest at the stance being adopted in the talks by European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

Meat processing plants, livestock marts and co-ops will close, as will agri-business outlets and suppliers in a show of solidarity with the country’s 130,000 farm families.

Farmers are travelling to Dublin for a rally to highlight their fears that current proposals in the trade talks would devastate the agriculture and food sectors.

After speeches outside the European Commission offices in Molesworth Street, there will be a march to Dublin Castle to coincide with President Barroso’s address to the Forum on Europe.

The Irish Farmers’ Association, which is organising the protest with the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association and Macra na Feirme, is warning of a widespread economic impact if the proposals as they stand are adopted.

Padraig Walshe, IFA president, said 50,000 processing and service jobs would be lost, 50,000 farmers would be put out of business and there would be a €4 billion a year loss to the national economy.

“In 50 towns around the country, meat, milk and other food processing and allied services are vital employers and wealth creators — in some cases they are the only enterprises in the town,” he said.

Mr Walshe said the greatest threat comes from the proposals to cut beef and dairy product import tariffs by 70% and those for lamb, pig meat, poultry and cereals by 55% to 70%.

Meat Industry Ireland spokesman Cormac Healy confirmed that the beef and lamb processing sector will shut down operations today in support of the agri-food sector protest.

Padraig Gibbons, president, Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, said President Barroso’s visit to Dublin presents an opportunity to highlight the concerns of the sectors.

Meanwhile, Mr Barroso is to deliver a lecture at UCC tomorrow morning entitled, “Why young people should be interested in the EU”.

Meanwhile Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says he expects Mr Barroso to reaffirm that Ireland will retain its veto on tax issues if the Lisbon treaty is passed.

In recent weeks there has been speculation that some member states are keen to move towards a common consolidated corporate tax base.

This could affect Ireland’s low corporate tax rate. But the Government has insisted it would retain its veto over any such proposals.

It also maintains that even if the treaty is passed it would maintain its veto on tax issues an could therefore reject any such proposals.