Leitrim farmers need 'copper-fastened guarantee that we will be compensated'

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke stressed that 'few countries are as dependent on exports as we are because we have a small population'

Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July 2026, launching a new trio with Lithuania and Greece and taking over from Poland, Denmark and Cyprus.

Over six months, Dublin will chair negotiations, broker compromises and set agendas on issues that matter to citizens and business and Leitrim councillor Paddy O'Rourke has said that Ireland must use this opportunity to protect the beef industry.

He said: "The Mercosur Deal will finalised, one way or another, by then. There is a possibility that Italy may halt it altogether and there wouldn't be too many in the farming community who would be too sorry about that as it poses a threat to agriculture as we know it. When you see what went on in Venezuela yesterday, you have to start asking questions about the stability of a lot of those other states and countries out there."

Last year, the European Commission recalled consignments of frozen Brazillian beef products imported into the EU, after it was found they contained hormones banned.

Cllr O'Rourke said: "The inspection regimes and methods of production leave a lot to be desired. In relation to the presidency, if we have to accept beef into the EU coming from places that it's produced under poorer standards, the EU is going to have to give us a copper-fastened guarantee that we will be compensated for our displacement in the market."

Cllr O'Rourke stressed that "Ireland has to use the presidency to seek advantage which is what every other country in the EU does. If Mercosur is approved between now and then, then we have to be get guarantees before it's approved. Our experience of past presidencies were that they were always useful in terms of bringing us more towards the centre of Europe and achieving some advantage for the state that hosts the presidency."

Last month, Irish Fishing Industry leaders said that a new EU quota deal, which will see a significant reduction in the amount of mackerel and other fish that can be caught, is “catastrophic” for Irish fishers.

Cllr O'Rourke said: "We could be looking at losing 2,300 jobs and in those communities that are dependent on it, it's an awful blow. I would expect and hope that the presidency will be used to advance the case of Ireland because few countries are as dependent on exports as we are because we have a small population."