President of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Francie Gorman has said that farmers "expect" the Government to do more in terms of its opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
Addressing members at the IFA’s AGM in Dublin, Mr Gorman said the coalition voted against the deal last week - as promised in the Programme for Government - "but we expect them to do more".
"There was also a commitment to work with other countries in opposing the deal. That work must continue before the European Parliament votes on the deal," he said.
Irish farmers are strongly opposed to the Mercosur agreement, allowing South American countries to export up to 99,000 tonnes of beef to the European Union at a much-reduced tariff.
Despite reassurances from Brussels, farmers fear cheaper beef that is not subject to the same regulatory requirements could undercut them and destroy their livelihoods.
Last week, EU member states approved the agreement, with a vote by members of the European Parliament the next step in the process.
Mr Gorman said that farmers have sent "a very clear message that people remain utterly opposed to this deal".
It is "bad for farming, bad for public health, and bad for rural Ireland," he added.
Mr Gorman said the IFA is appealing to Irish MEPs "to make as many contacts in the time between here and the vote to get the numbers we need".
He also said the association will be working through its Brussels office to build opposition to Mercosur.
Farmers from across Europe are due to protest outside the European Parliament next week.
Read more:
Why is the EU-Mercosur trade deal a contentious one?
Thousands of farmers rally in Athlone against Mercosur deal
During his speech, Mr Gorman acknowledged that last year "worked well for most sectors, with the obvious exception of those in tillage".
He said that a recent fall in milk prices is hurting dairy farmers.
Mr Gorman added that the higher cost of doing business has been absorbing much of the better price that members have been getting for their produce.
"The dominant issue for this year, and particularly the second half of the year, will be the shape of the next CAP (Common Agricultural Policy).
"The first issue to be resolved is the size of the budget as part of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework."
Last summer, the European Commission proposed merging the CAP fund with rural financial supports for the EU's next budget.
Such a move would see a 22% reduction in guaranteed agriculture funding.
Mr Gorman said that addressing CAP funding "should be a priority for Ireland during its EU Presidency" in the second half of this year.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon will address the IFA AGM this afternoon, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin is the guest speaker at a dinner this evening.
