ICSA president Sean McNamara has called on the Government to step up efforts to block the EU-Mercosur trade deal. He said that if this deal goes ahead, it will destroy the Irish beef sector and devastate rural Ireland. Speaking at ICSA’s protest outside Leinster House (Thurs 13 November), 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.

 “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. You cannot talk about climate action while importing beef from land cleared of rainforests. You cannot claim to care about rural Ireland if you are not willing to fight for it. And you cannot say you are opposed to Mercosur and then do nothing about it,” he said.

 Continuing, Mr McNamara said, “This deal is completely wrong. It rewards beef produced on deforested land in South America while demanding more and more environmental measures from EU farmers. 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. “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.”

 In addition, Mr McNamara said, “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 all those who came out to defend the sector and acknowledged the strong show of unity among farm organisations. “Today, we stood with the IFA, the INHFA and the ICMSA, and with farmers from every part of the country. That unity is what our politicians now need to show now. Government, all our politicians, all parties and MEPs need to unite now to galvanise opposition to this deal before it’s too late.”