Thousands of farmers gathered for a rolling tractor protest as part of a national demonstration and rally in Athlone today against the EU-Mercosur deal.
The large-scale protest in Athlone, Co Westmeath, saw scores of tractors gather for a rolling demonstration along the N6 motorway before a series of speeches took place at the Technological University of the Shannon.
The protest was organised by Independent Ireland and they were joined by representatives from Sinn Féin and Aontú along with other Independents TDs and Senators.
Gardaí had warned of significant traffic delays in the area due to the demonstration.
Yesterday, EU countries gave provisional clearance for the trade deal with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay - but it still needs to be backed by the European Parliament.
Ireland voted against the deal in its current form, with senior Cabinet figures insisting that negotiations are not finalised.
Beef farmers are concerned that the deal could threaten Irish beef exports to Europe due to the introduction of lower-cost Brazilian beef.
Ireland was one of five EU countries, including France, Austria, Hungary and Poland, to vote against the agreement at a meeting in Brussels yesterday.
Twenty member states voted in favour, with Belgium abstaining, allowing for a qualified majority of at least 15 member states, representing at least 65% of the EU population.
The Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said that he recognises the frustration that is being expressed by farmers today in Athlone, and how they feel this agreement is a "direct attack on their livelihood".
"Our farmers produce some of the best, most nutritious, safest food in the world to the highest environmental standards that has been set down by the EU," he said.
"Every year, farmers have upped their level of compliance with EU regulations around producing that food to a higher environmental sustainability standard, and now they see that they're being asked that European consumers would take in food that's produced to a lower environmental standard," he explained.
Mr Heydon also said MEPs can make their own decision when it comes to voting for or against the EU-Mercosur deal at the European Parliament.
"MEPs are answerable to their constituents. They can reflect themselves, and they do very clearly," he added.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) welcomed the decision of the Government to vote no against the deal, insisting that the proposed safeguards in the document do not give assurances that Brazilian beef will meet EU standards.
President of the IFA Francie Gorman said he has always believed if the deal was to be stopped, it was going to be at European Parliament level.
Mr Gorman said today's turnout shows show strongly farmers around the country feel about the deal.
"The message has to go back to our MEPs on foot of the vote yesterday at council level, that they have to work with their colleagues across Europe to make sure we get a majority of MEPs to oppose this deal, when it comes for ratification early in the spring," he said.
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly said there needs to be unity in opposing the Mercosur deal and has called on all Irish MEP's to reject the agreement.
"We will fight together to oppose this deal, and I can tell you, no matter what you heard from Italy yesterday, Italian MEPs have told me this morning they will vote no, this is not over," he said.
Speaking at the rally in Athlone, Mr Mullooly said farming organisations have united in opposition to the deal.
"Whether you're in Dun Laoghaire or Dundalk, we have to say no to Mercosur," he said.
Macra na Feirme President Josephine O'Neill told the crowd that the deal is "not free trade, but unfair trade" and added that young farmers "already face enormous barriers".
"Access to land, rising costs, low margins, and constant uncertainty.
"Now we are telling them that even if they do everything right, their livelihood can still be undermined overnight," she said.
"If we undermine farm income, we undermine generational renewal, if farms are no longer viable our young people cannot and will not stay.
"And without young farmers there is no future for Irish agriculture," Ms O'Neill added.
Yesterday, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said the European Commission should not "take for granted" that MEPs will back the deal.
While he said it looked likely it would pass, he added: "It is not a done deal."
He said "there's still a window of time" to "outline the concerns that we have in relation to the agreement".
Read more: Political necessity at home trumped wider view on Mercosur deal
Deputy President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association Eamon Carroll said the pressure is on MEPs now.
"It's down to our MEPs at this stage, it's hugely disappointing when you see other countries voting for this.
"It's not over yet, it has a way to go yet and hopefully it can be turned around because if it isn't, the credibility of the EU and this leadership comes into question," he said.
Leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins described today's event in opposition to what he called a "filthy rotten deal" as a "stunning success".
Speaking in Athlone, he said the Government allowed indecision to take control.
'We tag, we test, we toil, we trace, all for what?'
Among those at the rally was beef farmer Pat O’Hara from Granard, Co Longford.
Mr O’Hara held a sign that read "we tag, we test, we toil, we trace, all for what?".
He said he is worried about the traceability of Brazilian beef, and that it could be of inferior quality.
His comments come days after confirmation that beef containing banned hormones entered the Irish market, something the IFA said should be a "wake-up call" for the Government.
Paul McGibney, who is also a beef farmer from Granard, said he was very disappointed with yesterday’s EU vote, but added that farmers "will keep fighting".
He believes that if the deal goes through, the price of Irish beef could be "cut in half".
Eoin Ryan from the Iveragh Co-op Mart in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, also said he was worried about the quality of beef and the use of hormones in Brazilian beef.
Mr Ryan also outlined environmental concerns, saying "cutting down rainforest to produce beef, and fly it halfway across the world, doesn’t make sense".
Chair of the IFA’s Donegal branch Joe Sweeney said: "We’ve had enough, we’re trying to stop this going through because it is going to have a big effect on the cattle and livestock in Ireland.
"In Ireland, we produce meat to a standard that is not happening from the countries this meat is going to come from. Why should they get away with it if we can’t?"
