Mercosur trade deal ‘A betrayal of Irish farmers,’ - Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh

Sinn Féin Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh has condemned the Mercosur trade deal currently being finalised by the European Commission, calling it a “betrayal of Irish farmers.” She has urged the caretaker government to immediately notify the EU of Ireland’s official opposition to the agreement.

Deputy Conway-Walsh stated, “The Sinn Féin position is clear. We oppose the Mercosur deal, we have always unconditionally opposed the Mercosur deal, and I call on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to do the same.”

She highlighted the risks posed by the deal, which would allow 99,000 additional tonnes of South American beef into the EU market, saying, “Mercosur offers nothing positive for Ireland. The deal is bad for farming – our most important indigenous sector – bad for our overall economy, and disastrous for the environment.”

Deputy Conway-Walsh noted the deep concerns among farmers in Mayo, stating she has spoken with dozens over the past week, all of whom oppose the deal. She emphasised that the incoming government must work with countries like France and Poland to block ratification of the agreement.

“Sinn Féin is standing for farmers, for rural communities, and for the high-quality beef Ireland is known for in the EU and worldwide. The same cannot be said for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who have abandoned farmers at every opportunity,” she added.

She criticised both parties for what she called contradictory positions, accusing them of “telling our farming community that they’re opposed to the deal while doing nothing to stop it.”

Deputy Conway-Walsh also pointed to the wider impact on beef and poultry farmers, who she says “would face a real struggle to remain viable” under the agreement. She warned of increasing price volatility in the agricultural sector, an issue she says successive governments have failed to address.

“Time is running out, and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must notify the EU immediately to voice their opposition to this rotten deal,” she concluded.