Destabilising rural livelihoods is not fair trade. It is a race to the bottom. What has happened with Mercosur is not right. We all understand trade and the necessities of it but I come from a rural community in Mayo and see the promises that have been made. We were told me must stand back and look at it in the wider context but I see what was done over the years going back to the EU directive in 1997, where farmers were promised and promised. They were promised they would be compensated in relation to designations. Where does that leave us today? There was no compensation for designations. In not only the designated areas but also the buffer zones, there are real questions of property rights. People cannot build on their own land as it is. The Government has not opposed Mercosur in the way it needed to do. It has not stood up or made alliances in the EU. What has happened is a bypass of national vetoes and sidelining of national parliaments. It undermines democratic oversight. There are much bigger consequences of what has happened. There is food security. My God, look at the geopolitical situation at the moment. Food security is something people depend on. This is much more than just a farming matter; it is a matter for everybody living in this country. That is why we have said "No" to Mercosur right from the beginning. When we were told beef was taken off the table, we knew it was never taken off the table. It has to be "No" to Mercosur. I listened intently to the Taoiseach again today. Even at this late stage, there are steps that can be taken by the Government. Take back the power and stand up for rural and farm communities.

Sentiment score: 0.08