Farmers mount anti-Mandelson protest at British Embassy
A group of farmers has mounted a demonstration outside the British Embassy in Dublin to protest against the actions of EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.
The farmers claim Mandelson is set to sacrifice the EU agri-food sector for unspecified access to American markets during upcoming world trade talks in Hong Kong.
They claim Mr Mandelson is set to allow increased imports of meat from countries like Brazil and New Zealand, a move that would harm the Irish food and farming sectors.
The IFA has claimed 250,000 jobs could be at risk.
Spokesman Raymond O'Malley said: "If we are put in a position where we have to compete with much cheaper imports, we're going to see huge unemployment in rural Ireland.
"This will cause a situation where we're going to have people emigrating from the country once again."
Malcolm Thompson of the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association, meanwhile, has accused Mr Mandelson of conspiring with the British government to impose British food policy on Europe.
"Peter Mandelson appears to be exceeding his mandate in the negotiations [and] Tony Blair has stifled all debate about [the matter] at the European Council of Ministers meeting," he said.
