Independent Ireland issue Mercosur public meeting update

Organisers of Saturday’s public meeting regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement at TUS Athlone Campus have issued an update with respect to plans for the event.

The event will host several speakers, including representatives of Independent Ireland, and they have also confirmed that representatives from ten of the major farmer representative organisations will be speaking at the public meeting.

Additionally, there will be several MEPs and representatives from other political parties and groups speaking at the event, which has been branded as being “above politics”.

EU ambassadors approved the EU-Mercosur trade deal by a qualified majority in Brussels this morning (Friday).

Ireland, France, Poland, Austria and Hungary opposed the deal, while Belgium abstained from the vote.

The rest of the EU member states, including Italy, approved the deal.

It was announced on Thursday that the Government were going to vote against the trade deal, but Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly explained in a statement shortly following the announcement that: “This announcement proves one thing beyond doubt – people power works and pressure works,” before continuing to say: “But let me be very clear: this deal is not dead. It has not been voted on in the EU Parliament. Nothing is done until MEPs vote in Strasbourg. That is why it is vital that farmers and communities show their strength this Saturday.”

Across the continent, farming groups are participating in mass rallies opposing the trade deal, particularly in Italy, France and Poland. The EU parliament ultimately has veto powers over the deal and will vote in the coming weeks.

The deal has been widely criticised by farming organisations, rural community leaders and politicians from across the political spectrum, including elected representatives from both the opposition and even by some representatives of Government parties, as a ‘bad deal for farmers and rural communities’.

In their latest statement, Independent Ireland representatives have reminded the public that they want the assembly to be peaceful and have asked those who are attending the event to "co-operate fully with the directions of An Garda Siochana en route to and returning home from the venue.

“While at the meeting venue, attendees are asked to be respectful of security personnel, stewards, and all other volunteers and persons who will be marshalling and administrating the event – and to follow their instructions to ensure public safety and minimise inconvenience to the general public.”

The organisers of Saturday’s public meeting concluded by thanking everyone who had expressed their support, both publicly and privately, for their efforts in organising the event.

They also thanked the authorities for their cooperation, advice and instructions, which have made organising the event in a “professional and safety-focused” way possible.

All road users, including pedestrians, are advised to obey the rules of the road at all times and to follow the instructions of An Garda Siochana and/or any official signage erected on the day.

Due to potential diversions which An Garda Siochana may put in place to manage traffic flow, it is not recommended to rely solely on satellite navigation (SatNav), and attendees are asked to travel in good time and to be safe on the roads.