The price of Irish beef and a fall in demand has led, according to some reports, to the current beef farming crisis. Irish farmers are complaining about the price they receive per head, and in the wake of farming subsidies who is benefiting from the Irish beef industry anyway?
There are also protests about a new trade agreement to be signed early next year between the European Union and four South American countries; Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uraguay – together known as Mecosur.
French and Irish pressure may jeopardise the Mecosur deal which removes 90% of tariffs from both industrial and agricultural products on both sides. Hopefully this will benefit the poorer countries.