Ireland should walk away from the world trade talks or force serious negotiations on a better deal for the food industry, an industry leader said this week.
Kieron Fitz-gerald, chairman of Meat Industry Ireland, said the Irish food industry had "little to gain and much to lose" because of the current state of the negotiations. He said the Government "must impress on our EU colleagues that the food industry is of vital national interest".
EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson was due in Ireland soon. Mr Fitzgerald said "agriculture here is not a sunset industry as is currently being portrayed. In fact it is an industry which can grow."
