IFA President Meets French Ambassador on Mercosur Deal and Other Issues

The IFA President Francie Gorman has met the French Ambassador to Ireland Céline Place in the Irish Farm Centre to discuss the Mercosur trade deal and other issues.

The Ambassador confirmed that the Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne had been invited to a recent meeting, convened by the French Minister for European Affairs, of countries concerned about the Mercosur trade deal but that he was unable to attend. 

Francie Gorman said he had written to the Tánaiste and Minister for Trade Simon Harris to seek a meeting with him on the Mercosur agreement.

“The Government gave a clear commitment in their Programme for Government to work with other Member States to oppose the Mercosur deal, yet they were not at this meeting organised by France. It is very concerning,” he said. 

“The Ambassador assured us that the French remain opposed to a deal that would allow in more imports that do not meet our world-class standards. Ambassador Place emphasised that President Macron continues to voice his opposition to the deal because of the negative implications for European farmers,” he said.

“France has always been a steadfast ally of ours on farming issues. We work closely with FNSEA to secure outcomes that safeguard the family farm. Through our Brussels office, we will continue to represent farmers at discussions about future farm policy.”

The IFA President and Ambassador Place also discussed the uncertainty posed by the tariffs placed on our food products and pledged to keep our issues to the forefront of Government thinking.

Francie Gorman said the meeting also covered the negotiations that will get underway shortly on the next CAP.

“We re-affirmed the importance of securing the CAP budget in the first place and then looking for the distribution of that budget in a way that food production and farmers are supported,” he said.

“We also raised the issue of live exports and the importance of the lairage facilities in Cherbourg, as well as concerns around the transport regulations for breeding horses,” he said. 

Both the IFA President and the French Ambassador pledged to remain in contact and to work together on priority issues.