Government's Mercosur stance "looks more like political strategy than principled support" - Nolan

Independent TD for Offaly, Carol Nolan, has welcomed confirmation that Ireland will vote against the Mercosur trade deal - but said there was "a growing impression that this is more of a strategic political retreat in the face of Government infighting rather than principled support for the concerns of farmers".

Earlier today (Thursday) it emerged that Ireland will vote against the Mercosur free trade agreement between the European Union and a number of South American countries.

Commenting on this, Deputy Nolan said: "Government wants us to believe that at the 11th hour, a spine has finally been located in Government buildings.

"What I and many others see however is that definitive official opposition to this deal only came about once fissures within the government formation finally became public.

"Up until this point Government was clearly talking out of both sides of its mouth in the hope that farmer opposition might peter out once talk of 'safeguards' took centre stage.

"That is why this no vote looks more like avoiding political mutiny rather than endorsing the massive and sustained opposition to Mercosur."

Despite these reservations, she said the Government's declaration of opposition was "far better than a decision to ratify this lethal deal, irrespective of the political machinations" involved.

"The task now is to continue finding ways in which we can protect the integrity and economic value of Irish agriculture in the face of the sustained assault on standards that Mercosur still represents," Deputy Nolan added.

A national protest rally against the Mercosur trade deal is planned for Athlone this Saturday and organisers said today that it will be going ahead.