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08/04/2016
Ferris Calls On Agriculture Minister To 'Do His Job' For Beef Farmers
Sinn Féin's Martin Ferris has hit out at Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney for failing to "stand up" for Irish beef farmers.
The party's agriculture spokesman has called on Mr Coveney to "do his job" after reports suggest the Mercosur countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, are to be offered larger quotas for the export of their beef to the EU.
Deputy Ferris said he was "very concerned" over reports other countries will be offered bigger import quotas.
"Irish farmers must be protected against unfair competition from countries which do not maintain the high standards demanded and met by Irish farmers and consumers and which are obligatory in the EU," he said.
"Does Simon Coveney think that our own beef farmers, who have struggled to survive low beef prices and unfair penalisation by the big processors can now be asked to compete with duty-free imports from Latin America?
"The acting minister seems to have other priorities at the moment in trying to cobble together a government but it he should do his job and stand up for Irish beef farmers in Brussels and if he won't then Enda Kenny should talk to the president of the Commission, Jean Claude Juncker to put a stop to any negotiation which involves importation to the EU of agri-food products in sectors which are already vulnerable here."
(LM)
The party's agriculture spokesman has called on Mr Coveney to "do his job" after reports suggest the Mercosur countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, are to be offered larger quotas for the export of their beef to the EU.
Deputy Ferris said he was "very concerned" over reports other countries will be offered bigger import quotas.
"Irish farmers must be protected against unfair competition from countries which do not maintain the high standards demanded and met by Irish farmers and consumers and which are obligatory in the EU," he said.
"Does Simon Coveney think that our own beef farmers, who have struggled to survive low beef prices and unfair penalisation by the big processors can now be asked to compete with duty-free imports from Latin America?
"The acting minister seems to have other priorities at the moment in trying to cobble together a government but it he should do his job and stand up for Irish beef farmers in Brussels and if he won't then Enda Kenny should talk to the president of the Commission, Jean Claude Juncker to put a stop to any negotiation which involves importation to the EU of agri-food products in sectors which are already vulnerable here."
(LM)
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