Clare Fm - Podcasts

Irish MEPs are returning to Brussels this week to push for stricter food safety measures under the Mercosur trade deal. They want to ensure products meet EU standards and do not contain illegal or harmful growth promoters. They plan to meet colleagues from other countries, including Italy and France, where MEPs are reported to be wavering. The deal was provisionally approved by EU member states last week. Thousands of farmers and supporters, along with representatives from the country’s MEPs gathered for a rolling tractor protest in Athlone on Saturday, part of a national demonstration and rally in Athlone to protest against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Independent Ireland MEP Ciarán Mullooly says he will call on colleagues to remove South American meat imports as part of the agreement. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined live in-studio by Scariff-based Independent Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara and Tulla-based Fianna Fail Minister of State Timmy Dooley on Monday's Morning Focus.