ICSA president Sean McNamara has said the European Commission's so-called safeguards on the Mercosur trade deal are nothing more than a smokescreen that will do nothing to protect EU farmers. "The Commission is talking about safeguards that would only kick in after a surge of cheap imports or a collapse in prices - but by then the damage will already be done. Irish and EU farmers will be undercut long before Brussels decides to act. These measures are too slow, too vague, and too easy for the Commission to delay. They offer zero real protection for farmers on the ground," he said.

Mr McNamara was speaking following news that the Commission is trying to push these measures through without proper debate. "It's outrageous that they're trying to bypass the European Parliament on such a critical issue. Farmers deserve transparency and accountability, not backroom shortcuts that put their livelihoods on the line. Irish farmers have had enough empty reassurances. We need our politicians to stand up now and stop this before irreversible damage is done."

Mr McNamara said ICSA will not stay silent while our politicians fail to act. "This time last year, ICSA protested at the gates of the Dáil to demand real action from the government on this deal - and we're still waiting. We'll be back there protesting again on Thursday, 13 November, because our politicians are failing us on this issue. Their talk is cheap at this point. Our farmers deserve better, and we intend to make sure they hear that message loud and clear. Every farmer who wants to defend their livelihood should join us in protest – we must stand united against this hypocritical and damaging deal."