Former Irish President Mary Robinson has said that the agricultural reforms being sought at the World Trade Talks in Mexico will hurt Irish farmers - but they have to face up to it.
There is said to be growing organised opposition to the reform package being offered by Europe and the United States at the talks in Cancun.
Kenya, which already has a special trading relationship with the EU, has broken away to join a group of 21 developing countries demanding Europe and the United States give more ground on Agriculture.
Ireland's minister of state for trade, Michael Ahern, said hard decisions had already been taken on agricultural reform and that others should now be more flexible and realistic in the negotiations.
