Irish Farmers Protest Government's WTO Stance

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000219

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USTR
USDA FOR FAS - OCRA
LONDON FOR FAS/MCSHERRY

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU EI
SUBJECT: Irish Farmers Protest Government's WTO Stance



1. Irish farmers took part in a peaceful demonstration in Dublin in
protest against the current EU stance at WTO negotiations on April

17. The protest took place as European Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso addressed a forum discussing the future of the EU.
Reportedly 10,000 farmers from all areas and sectors of the
agricultural community took part in the rally and the numbers
exceeded the organizers' expectations.


2. Many agribusiness related firms also stopped work for a number
of hours in conjunction with the protest march. The leading farmers
associations have claimed that the stance which the EC is taking in
the current WTO negotiations could badly affect the Irish beef and
dairy sectors.


3. The President of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) warned the
Irish government that farmers would not take the current proposals
to cut import tariffs lightly and that such cuts would have an
impact on how farmers vote in the EU Reform Treaty referendum.
Irish voters go to the polls in June to ratify changes to the EU
Reform Treaty.


4. In a radio interview, the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan
said she is taking the recent threat by farmers to vote 'no' in the
forthcoming referendum seriously. She noted, however, that the
referendum and the WTO talks are two different matters and that she
was working to ensure that the outcome of the WTO talks is balanced,
with the appropriate protections for Irish farmers and the agri-food
sector. Ms. Coughlan said she felt that the majority of people in
Ireland know that voting 'yes' on the Reform Treaty will be hugely
important for Ireland.
Foley