IFA urges farmers to attend major Mercosur protest in Athlone

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is encouraging farmers to take part in this Saturday's major national protest rally in Athlone in opposition to the EU's proposed Mercosur trade deal with countries in South America.

The event, which is being organised by the Independent Ireland political party, has also received the backing of other farming groups and organisers are expecting a turnout of 5,000 to 10,000 people.

"We would strongly encourage farmers to attend next Saturday (January 10) to convey their opposition to Mercosur. It is a massive issue and we need a united front," said IFA president Francie Gorman.

He said there was "huge pressure" from the European Commission and certain Member States to ratify the Mercosur deal as soon as next week.

"It is vital that our Government lives up to its commitment in the Programme for Government to work with like-minded countries to block the deal," Mr Gorman said.

The Athlone protest is due to get underway at around 11am, with a convoy of hundreds of tractors expected to travel on the N6 Athlone relief road between junction 12 (Roscommon Road) and junction 9 (Garrycastle).

The convoy is set to meet with protesters on foot at junction 9 (Garrycastle), who will then march to the TUS Athlone campus at lunchtime, where speeches in its international arena are scheduled to begin at around 1.30pm.

It's expected that the cavalcade of tractors on the dual carriageway will mean that all east-bound motorway traffic will have to be diverted through the centre of Athlone for much of the first half of Saturday, with significant traffic delays likely.

Athlone Independent Ireland councillor Paul Hogan encouraged local communities to support Saturday's national protest rally.

"The Mercursor deal is a very bad deal for Irish farmers and consumers," said Cllr Hogan. "We have a gold standard in this country in terms of food production. This deal will enable lower standards of food produce, with often unsafe procedures and practices, to be sold in Ireland.

"We, as consumers cannot allow that to happen and we must support our farmers and food producers."

* For more details on Saturday's protest, see this week's Westmeath Independent and Offaly Independent