Sinn Féin to attend Athlone protest against Mercosur 

Sinn Féin TD for Meath West, Johnny Guirke, has confirmed that Sinn Féin representatives will attend a major protest against the EU-Mercosur deal in Athlone on Saturday, 10 th January, organised by Independent Ireland. Deputy Guirke said the deal threatens the future of the Irish family farm, Irish rural jobs, consumer confidence and the environmental standards people in Ireland rightly expect.

Teachta Guirke said: “Sinn Féin will stand with farmers, farm families and rural communities in Athlone on Saturday 10 January to oppose the EU-Mercosur deal. This deal is a direct threat to the future of the Irish family farm, to Irish rural jobs, to Irish consumer confidence and to the environmental standards people in Ireland rightly expect. The government cannot continue to fudge its position on this major issue. It must vote against Mercosur and it must work actively with like-minded member states to form a blocking minority to stop this deal at EU level.

 Ha added: “That is what Sinn Féin has demanded in the Dáil and it is what we will keep demanding until the government finally stands up for Irish farming families and Irish consumers. The core issue is fairness and safety standards. Irish farmers are being asked to compete against imports produced to different rules, with weaker enforcement and lower costs, while Irish producers are held to ever-higher standards. That is not ‘free trade’ – it is rigged trade. Sinn Féin has been consistently opposed to Mercosur because it risks undercutting Irish beef and other farm sectors, and because it raises serious concerns around traceability, food safety and environmental harm, including deforestation.” 

Finally pointing out: “Ireland should be defending high standards at home and abroad – not signing up to an agreement that encourages a race to the bottom. I commend those organising this protest. The message needs to be heard clearly – Irish farmers and rural communities will not be sacrificed to a trade deal that delivers profits for big business while leaving Irish producers to carry the cost.”