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Latest Farming News WTO Sell-out Rejected
Latest Farming News WTO Sell-out Rejected | WTO Sell-out Rejected |
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| Written by Cian Mac Sweeny | |
| Wednesday, 16 April 2008 | |
 County councils in Cavan, Carlow, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford have passed a motion calling on the Government to assert Ireland’s vital national interest and reject Mandelson’s concessions in the trade talks. Mr Padraig Walshe, IFA President said he now expects that the concerns shown by county councillors around the country will be high on the agenda of the next Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting. IFA has made presentations to each of the local authorities in recent days, explaining the devastating impact that a deal would have on Irish agriculture and the food sector. IFA President, Mr Padraig Walshe said the overwhelming support from county councils underlined the backing that existed for the campaign, which will see farmers protest outside Dublin Castle on Thursday when President Jose Barroso attends the Forum on Europe. “Just as agri-business has come out in force to support the Mandelson Shut Down next Thursday, 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.” Presentations will be made to the remaining county councils over the next fortnight. 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".      |
