The Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA)’s 72st AGM takes place today and it’s no surprise that the Mercosur trade deal is top of the agenda.
The gathering gets underway from lunchtime in Dublin and comes just days after thousands of farmers met in Athlone to voice their concerns regarding the proposed arrangements between Europe and south American countries.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Agriculture Minister Martin Heyden are among those attending the meeting which will open with an address from IFA President and Laois man Francie Gorman.
He says it’s a crucial time for farmers around the country; “Obviously today we focus on the Mercosur trade deal, it’s a very, very current issue, but also Ireland’s presidency of the European Union which starts on the first of July will be a huge focus for us with the CAP negotiations and the budget and, I think, the cost of doing business which comes up time and time again will also be a focus”.
