COUNTY Limerick politician Richard O’Donoghue says he is strongly opposed to the Mercosur Deal, which he says will reduce tariffs on most European Union exports to major Latin American economies while increasing their access to the EU market for imports, including agricultural products.
The recently re-elected Deputy O’Donoghue, general secretary of Independent Ireland, was at a European Parliament session in Brussells to express his opposition last weekend.
“The Mercosur Deal threatens not only the future of Irish farming, but also our food security, environmental commitments, and democratic integrity,” he stated.
“The agreement will flood the European market with 99,000 tonnes of South American beef annually, produced under standards far below those adhered to by Irish farmers. This could drive Irish beef prices down by an estimated 30 per cent, delivering a devastating blow to an already struggling sector and endangering the livelihoods of rural communities across the country.”
Deputy O’Donoghue also raised serious concerns about the environmental impacts of the deal, noting that beef imports from Mercosur countries are often tied to deforestation and unsustainable farming practices.
“It makes no sense to undermine Irish farmers, who meet some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world, while encouraging imports from regions that contribute to global environmental degradation,” he added.
Deputy O’Donoghue said he has written to Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin on the issue, and has encouraged the pair to travel to France, Italy, and other EU member states to build alliances with European leaders, such as President Emmanuel Macron (France) and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Italy), who have also expressed concerns about the deal.
“If 35 per cent of the EU population opposes the pact, it must be put to a vote. Ireland must lead the charge to ensure the voices of farmers and citizens are heard. The stakes could not be higher,” he concluded.
