Irish beef farmers need to “stop whingeing” about Mercosur, according to aviation business mogul Michael O’Leary, as he doubles down on his bullish outlook for the sector. “I don’t think there’s any basis for the IFA’s opposition to the Mercosur trade deal,” he added, insisting that fears of South American beef undermining Irish production are “exaggerated”. He surmises that imported beef is likely to be confined to low-visibility processed products, while Irish beef continues to command a premium in retail and food-service markets across Europe. “I don’t think Brazilian beef would be able to compete with Irish beef, in restaurants or supermarkets. While critical of trade protectionism, O’Leary insisted that the high-quality Irish beef brand is strong enough to ensure premiums for Irish farmers that would allow them to keep ahead of South American producers.

Source: Irish Examiner April 02, 2026 20:34 UTC