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Mounting political opposition to the Mercosur deal means the Government is likely to lose the upcoming Dáil vote on the deal.
The relevance of an Irish vote on the deal had been questioned but the IFA has pointed out that Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys has confirmed the deal does have to come before the Dáil for ratification.
The IFA said Fianna Fáil has committed to vote against the Government on a Sinn Féin motion regarding the Mercosur deal.
IFA president Joe Healy added that cattle from Brazil currently fail to meet EU standards, as they are not tagged or traceable.
The Dáil vote will take place on Thursday 11 July.
Wrong deal
The ICSA has also come out strongly against the proposed deal, with its president saying it is: “The wrong deal at the wrong time.”
President Edmond Phelan said he planned to attend a Beef Plan Movement protest planned outside Leinster House on Wednesday 10 July.
“Our message here today is clear – we will not stand by while hard-working family-run Irish beef farms are sacrificed in this manner,” he said.
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