Sinn Féin to attend Athlone protest against Mercosur deal

Sinn Féin TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke, has confirmed that representatives of the party will attend the major national protest against the EU-Mercosur deal which will be taking place in Athlone this Saturday, January 10.

The protest, which is being organised by the Independent Ireland party, has received the backing of farming organisations such as the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and the Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA).

Thousands are expected to attend the rally, which will include a tractor convoy on the N6 Athlone Relief Road followed by speeches at the TUS International Arena.

Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke said the Mercosur trade deal between Europe and a group of South American countries "threatens the future of the Irish family farm, Irish rural jobs, consumer confidence and the environmental standards people in Ireland rightly expect".

She added: "Sinn Féin will stand with farmers, farm families and rural communities in Athlone on Saturday, January 10, to oppose the EU-Mercosur deal.

"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.

"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," she said.

"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.

"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," she added. "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," Deputy Clarke concluded.