18 county councils around the country including; Cavan, Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford and Westmeath, have now endorsed the IFA campaign to block Peter Mandelson’s attempts to enforce a trade deal that would severely damage Irish agriculture.

IFA President, Mr Padraig Walshe said the widespread backing of councillors from all political parties, who unanimously adopted the IFA motion calling on the Government to assert Ireland’s vital national interest and reject Mandelson’s concessions in the trade talks, highlighted the overwhelming support that exists for the IFA campaign.

The Irish Farmers Association has made presentations to each of the local authorities in recent weeks, explaining the devastating implications that a deal would have on Irish agriculture and the food sector.

“Just as farmers and agri-business came out in force to support the Mandelson Shut Down, county councils also recognise the seriousness of the situation and have sent a clear message by passing this motion. The outcome of the current negotiations would cost the Irish economy €4bn and see 50,000 farmers put out of business, along with 50,000 job losses in the processing sector.”

The motion is: That the position of EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in the WTO negotiations represents a grave and unacceptable threat to Irish farming, the food industry and employment in the Irish economy; we call on the Minister for Agriculture, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach to assert Ireland’s vital national interest at the highest level in Europe by rejecting Mandelson’s concessions.

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