IFA Welcomes Dail Vote and Says Opposition to Mercosur Deal Is Growing Across Europe

IFA President Joe Healy has welcomed today’s Dail vote rejecting the EU Commission Mercosur deal.  He said the Dail vote sends a very strong message to the Taoiseach and the Government that Ireland must reject this deal.

IFA is also intensifying its campaign in Europe to reject the deal.

IFA President Joe Healy, Livestock Chair Angus Woods and Poultry Chair Andrew Boylan met with representatives of the French, Belgium and Polish farmers’ organisations in Brussels yesterday as part of a campaign to build a European alliance against the Mercosur deal. Joe Healy said IFA in conjunction with the other EU farm organisations have put forward proposals on an EU action plan against the Mercosur deal. The IFA delegation also met with the newly re-elected first vice-President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness.

Next week, IFA will meet with all of Ireland’s newly elected MEPs in Strasbourg.

“This deal will require the approval of the European Parliament. We believe that resistance to this sell-out deal is growing across Europe” he said. The leaders of COPA, the European farm umbrella body, of which Joe Healy is vice-President, will also meet next week to discuss the deal.

IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said, “European beef farmers consider Mercosur was a sell-out deal for the sector”.

IFA National Poultry Chairman Andy Boylan said, “This deal undermines European quality assurance and promotes double standards”.