FARMERS across the West of Ireland have been urged to ‘turn out in numbers’ in support of the anti-Mercosur public protest due to take place in Athlone on this Saturday, January 10th, at 11am.

The demonstration is being organised by Independent Ireland through its TDs and MEP Ciaran Mullooly – this week Galway IFA Chairman, Stephen Canavan, urged farmers to turn out in strength at the protest.

“What’s happening with Mercosur is wrong and completely wrong – Ireland has nothing whatsoever to gain from this deal.

“It will allow in food from Brazil and the other Mercosur countries that is quite simply not safe for consumers to use,” Stephen Canavan told the Farming Tribune.

He said that Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his colleagues in Government ‘to get off the fence’ and to state publicly their opposition to a deal that would be very bad news for farmers but also for millions of consumers across Europe.

Independent Ireland Roscommon-Galway TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, and Agriculture Spokesperson for the party, told the Farming Tribune, that Taoiseach Micheál Martin ‘had to stop driving on the two sides of the road’ on the Mercosur deal.

“This deal will allow in foods to Irish and EU consumers that are carcinogenic [cancer causing] and which will pose massive problems in terms of microbial resistance.

“It would take Brazilian agriculture at least 10-years to catch up with the standards in animal health and welfare that apply in Ireland and across the other EU countries,” said Deputy Fitzmaurice.

He added that across Europe, Ireland had to stand four-square behind countries such as France, Poland, Italy and some other smaller nations in ‘absolute and total opposition to this deal’.

Independent Ireland MEP, Ciaran Mulooly, said that the onus was now very firmly ‘on our own Taoiseach and Tánaiste to oppose the Mercosur deal outright’.

“The time for uncertainty and ambiguity is over – it’s time to pull on the green jersey and stand up for Irish farmers” said MEP Mullooly.

Glenamaddy Fine Gael councillor, Peter Keaveney, who is also a well-known suckler farmer and agricultural contractor, has this week also urged the Government to oppose the toxic Mercosur deal, immediately.

“Agriculture is the backbone of the rural community in Ireland- there is no question about that. People need to understand that the implications of this potential deal will go far beyond the farm gate.

“Should it go through, Mercosur will play a big role in dismantling established agricultural livelihoods. What sort of a message will this portray to the young people who are trying to forge a career in Irish agriculture?”, Cllr Keaveney stated.

■ Saturday’s protest takes place at 11am with a tractor and vehicle cavalcade around the town crossing the River Shannon and ending with a major rally in the town.

Pictured: Galway IFA Chairman, Stephen Canavan