Farmers play a vital role, but they must face up to world trade realities

NOT for the first time, Peter Mandelson is being turned into an Irish hate figure. The best part of a decade ago, it was northern nationalists who took exception to the machinations of the Prince of Darkness over reform of the RUC. Now it’s Irish farmers who feel they are being sold out.

IFA president Padraig Walshe is talking tough, warning that he might withdraw his recommendation of a yes vote in the Lisbon treaty referendum. He has also accused Mandelson of being “neither a friend of agriculture nor of Ireland’s interests in the World Trade Organisation” (WTO).

It’s time the IFA wised up. Admittedly, it isn’t difficult to portray Mandy as the lapdog of the multinationals. His whole political career has been one long catalogue of damaging intrigues with the super-rich. Like Icarus, he flies too close to the sun.