The Clare based former General Secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association is warning the Mercosur deal will be a disaster for rural Ireland.
It comes as the Government has now declared it will vote against the controversial trading pact.
EU member states are due to vote on the Mercosur Trade Deal tomorrow.
If it goes through, it will allow the South-American trading bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia to export up to 99,000 tonnes of beef into Europe with relaxed tariffs annually.
In exchange, the Mercosur countries would remove import duties on 91% of goods coming in from the EU.
Farming groups have been strongly opposed to the deal, however, since it was first proposed, due to concerns over the substandard quality of South-American beef, lack of traceability and that it will make market conditions harder for Irish farmers.
Speaking in China today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed Ireland will vote against the deal.
So far Ireland, France, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Austria have all indicated their opposition to the pact, but the deal can only be prevented if countries representing over 35% of the EU’s population vote against it.
Despite the vote taking place, a large protest organised by Independent Ireland is planned for Athlone on Saturday, with several farming groups as well as government and opposition parties all planning to attend.
Cratloe Farmer and former General Secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association Eddie Punch says Mercosur would be a disaster for rural Ireland.
Listen to the full interview here
