About 300 farmers demonstrated outside the EU Commission offices in Dublin's Molesworth Street this afternoon against current proposals on world trade reform.
The Irish Farmers' Association estimates that a deal could cost this country €2bn, and they have accused Trade Commissioner Peter Mandleson of preparing to destroy the Irish beef industry.
These negotiations on liberalising the rules on world trade have been going on for seven years, but a big effort is underway to find agreement in the next few months.
Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan has already signalled that she has major problems with recent WTO proposals - which include cuts in supports for farming, and increased imports to Europe from countries outside the EU.
The IFA is now accusing Mr Mandleson of conceding too much to Brazil and other South American countries on beef imports - with no gains on non-farming issues.
IFA leader Padraig Walshe estimates that cattle prices here would be halved as a result, and there would be problems for dairy, sheep and grain farmers.
The IFA has called on the Government to veto Mr Mandelson's proposals.
Mr Walshe says it would be unrealistic to expect farmers to vote Yes for the Lisbon Treaty when agriculture is under such threat.
EC aware of Irish farmers' concerns
The protesting farmers brought a number of young cattle to highlight the dangers facing the beef sector.
In a statement, the EC said is very much aware of Irish concerns in relation to beef in the context of the WTO trade talks.
The EU says it has a mandate to negotiate from the 27 member states. The commission has reassured Ministers time and again that it will not go beyond that mandate.
The EU says it continues to strive for a balanced deal and the commission will not ask member states to approve a deal that is not balanced.
As of now, the statement says, the chances of concluding the deal are far from certain.
Others need to make a much greater contribution towards concluding the deal than we have seen so far.
