Wicklow Wexford TD Says Mercosur Deal Would Signal ''Death-Knell'' For Irish Agriculture

A local TD has urged farmers to stop supporting parties who are selling out on the much derided Mercosur EU Trade deal for cheap beef. Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin says ''Its like a turkey voting for Christmas!!!''

A Wicklow–Wexford TD has issued a strong warning over the proposed EU–Mercosur trade deal, saying it would “sound the death knell” for Irish agriculture.

Speaking in the Dáil, the Sinn Féin representative Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said the agreement is “a terrible deal for Irish farmers, consumers, and the environment,” and accused the Government of a “sit-back-and-wait approach” instead of defending Irish interests.

He  said farmers across South Wicklow and North Wexford overwhelmingly oppose the deal while criticising Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Independent TDs for “running with the hare and hunting with the hound” on the issue.

He warned that Irish beef—produced to world-class standards—would be forced to compete with cheaper South American imports with lower traceability, while the agreement would accelerate destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

All major farming organisations remain opposed to the deal, and the TD urged the Government to work with other EU countries to form a blocking minority at next month’s EU Council meeting.

He concluded by saying, “This is a terrible deal for Ireland. The message must be clear: Ireland says no to Mercosur.”

Teachta Ó Súilleabháin said....

''Now is the time for the from Wicklow-Wexford TDs, Malcolm Byrne and Brian Brennan TD to actually stand with the farmers instead of speaking out of both sides of their mouths. We have a large farming community in both South Wicklow and North Wexford, and they know this deal is not good for them.

"Negotiations are finished, the deal is done, and now is the time to decide if you are for or against this deal."

 He continued:

"The Mercosur Trade Agreement is a bad deal for Irish agriculture, a bad deal for Irish and EU consumers, and a bad deal for the environment. Sinn Féin’s motion today calls for cross-party support to send a clear message that Ireland opposes this agreement."

Locally, farmers across Wicklow fundamentally oppose Mercosur argued the TD...

"I have met with farmers across my constituency of Wicklow–Wexford, and not one farmer supports this deal. It is absolutely wrong on every level—it will be the death knell of Irish agriculture. Only last week, I stood outside Leinster House with members of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, and other farming groups assuring them of my full support."

He added that the government's response has been wholly inadequate...

"The Government’s response so far has been lacklustre. They have taken a sit-back-and-wait approach rather than fighting for the interests of Irish farmers. Their position of opposing the deal ‘in its current form’ is no longer tenable. Negotiations are finished—the deal is done. Now is the time to decide."

"Irish beef is produced to world-class standards, yet it will be forced to compete against cheap, substandard beef from South America—produced under poor animal welfare conditions with little or no traceability. This agreement will devastate Irish agriculture and accelerate environmental destruction through deforestation in the Amazon and the Cerrado tropical savanna."

"All farming organisations are opposed to Mercosur, and we expect a strong presence from them at tonight’s debate to send a clear message: this deal must be stopped."

Deputy Ó Súilleabháin concluded: