Thousands to attend protest against Mercosur deal
A SUCKLER farmer, agricultural contractor and Galway County Councillor has encouraged farmers and rural businesses to support the rally in Athlone on Saturday against the EU-Mercosur free trade deal which could cost the Irish economy as much as €130million per year.
A bus will depart from Tuam Mart on Saturday morning for the protest, which is expected to draw thousands of farmers from across the country to Athlone. A tractor and truck cavalcade will congregate at the Monksland exit of the motorway on the outskirts of Athlone at 11am, before the protest reaches its focal point at the TUS Midlands campus.
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly and Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-Galway Michael Fitzmaurice have led the calls for Saturday’s protest on the proposed trade deal, a deal that Glenamaddy Cllr Peter Keaveney has said is “toxic” and “decimating to the Irish beef industry.”
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