Limerick IFA flag waved proudly at huge farmer protest in Brussels

COUNTY IFA chairperson Louise Crowley represented Limerick farmers at a massive farmer protest in Brussels.

The event, the biggest in a decade, focused on three key themes: the CAP budget, trade deals including the Mercosur trade deal and excessive regulation around the cost of doing business.

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Farmers say the Mercosur deal will see them undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours.

Meat Industry Ireland say that beef and poultry should not have to pay the price of allowing other sectors in the economy gain access to the South American market

About 1,000 tractors rolled into the Belgian capital to put pressure on an EU leaders' summit where the deal's fate hung in the balance.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told EU leaders at a summit in Brussels that the signing of a free trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur would be postponed to January.

IFA president Francie Gorman, accompanied by his 11-year-old son Tom, drove to the protest in Brussels in a John Deere tractor.

He was joined in the Belgian capital by Limerick IFA chairperson Louise Crowley.

Mr Gorman welcomed the postponement of the Mercosur deal but said the Taoiseach must clarify comments.

“Comments by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, which indicated that the Government would have to factor in the recent EU Commission decision on the Nitrates derogation into its thinking on Mercosur, were totally unacceptable.

“These are two separate and distinct issues. For the Taoiseach to appear to link them is utterly unacceptable. There is a clear commitment on both issues in the Programme for Government,” said Mr Gorman.

The IFA president held discussions in Brussels with the EU Commission, including Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen and Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic, after the protest.

“I attended as vice president of COPA and re-stated the total opposition of Irish farmers to the Mercosur deal.

“The postponement of the Mercosur vote at the EU Council overnight shows that the proponents of the deal are on the run. Now is the time for the Taoiseach to re-affirm the commitment in the programme for Government and to work with like-minded member States to see it off,” said Mr Gorman.