IFA: WTO Deal Now Facing Government for Sure
IRELAND - Responding to the final WTO proposals published in Geneva, IFA President Padraig Walshe said the onus was now on the Government to declare a vital interest for Irish farming and the food industry in advance of the July 21st deadline.
11 July 2008
1 minute read
He said “The French President has already signalled his opposition to a sell-out of European family farmers to South American ranchers and traders. President Sarkozy has said the French people will not hand their food security away and become dependent on unreliable and unpredictable South American countries to feed the French nation.”
Mr Walshe said the deal now definitely facing the Government would mean the loss of 50,000 jobs in the food industry and services, and a further 50,000 farmers being put out of business. Farm output would be halved, the total cost to the economy would be €4 billion per year with a €2 billion loss in exports.
He said “beef prices would fall to €2/kg (70p/lb), making beef production unviable and leading to the slaughter of 1 million suckler cows. Milk prices would be cut to 24c/l and the sheep industry would be decimated by imports from New Zealand and Australia.”
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