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A NEW MULTI-billion euro free trade agreement between the EU and Canada has divided opinion in Ireland.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso signed off on the deal this afternoon, with Barroso saying that it could increase trade between the two partners by €26 billion.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton today said that the move was good news for Ireland.
“This agreement with Canada is really good news for our exporters. New markets will be opened in Canada and tariffs on nearly all of our exports there will be removed. The deal is good news for the economy and nearly every business sector in Ireland will benefit,” he said.
Ireland’s trade with Canada is currently €2.7 billion and has doubled since 206.
However, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) sounded a warning about the deal, saying that it could mean more pain than gain for farmers.
The ICSA’s beef chairman, Edmond Phelan, said the negatives could outweigh the positives for Irish beef farmers, because the deal allows for up to 40,000 tonnes of Canadian beef and 70,000 tonnes of Canadian pork into EU markets.
I am concerned that imports of cheaper Canadian meat have the potential to undermine the price of Irish beef in key export markets within the EU. While there may be some upside in terms of exports, the likelihood is that there will be more pain than gain for Irish farmers.
Dublin MEP Paul Murphy was also critical of parts of the deal.
“Environmentalists, trade unionists, indigenous community activists and others in Canada and Europe are rightly deeply sceptical to this trade agreement. Like all free trade negotiations conducted by the European Commission, the CETA negotiations have been held in secret and have been driven by Canadian and European multinationals and agribusiness that want market access and access to vital public services so they can profit at the expense of working people.”
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“first time mum Zuri and experienced dad Kumar.”
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The mane thing is you explained the joke
That fact gives me pride. But I did paws briefly before explaining it.
Dang can’t think of any more. I’ll have to draw the lion here so…
Cub your enthusiasm!
So you’re feline proud Paul.
He is the King of the Journal ,after all !
Cuteness overload
Beautiful creatures . majestic
I’m sick to my teeth of hearing “I don’t agree with zoo’s, no animal should be caged”… In imagination land that’s a brilliant idea, all animals roaming free etc. Reality check, If it wasn’t for these “prisons” a lot of these animals would now be extinct. Case in point, Longleat in England started a conservation in the 1960′s with Africa for the rhino, can’t remember whether its the white or black one. Anyways, since they started the breeding and re-population programme, its now come off the endangered list. All because idiots think no 1 its some kinda of magic Viagra, and 2, a “lovely ornament”… So I’m a firm believer in zoo’s, well until we can sterilize these idiots so they can’t reproduce.
Well said babs
Babs, you’re talking out of your arse!
So cute. While I don’t like the idea of keeping wild animals in zoos, for reasons of safe keeping until we can stop poachers and hunters this is what we can provide. I am not saying all zoos are good. But some do their best.
Beautiful animal, would be even more so in it’s own habitat.
Without reverting to name calling and with all due respet to Dublin Zoo, the bottom line is that Zoos are an entertainment business, their financial product is the animals the house and the revenue those animals produce. Baby animals generate huge footfall resulting in huge revenue for zoos.
Animals retained in zoos are denied everything that makes their lives meaningful. Every part of their lives is controlled and manipulated. They have no choice in what or when they eat, whom they mate with, or whom they live with. They are housed in structures that are not even close to the rainforests, plains, and jungles that are their indigenous habitats.
Instead of providing lifetime care, zoos routinely trade, lend (i.e. chinese pandas are all on loan), sell, barter, and distribute animals they no longer want—despite knowing that many species form lasting bonds that are important to their long-term health and happiness. Removing animals from bonded social groups and forcing them to adjust constantly to new routines, different caretakers, and unfamiliar cagemates is disruptive and traumatic. Most animals go mad in captivity.
Zoos have ingeniously managed to tag the world “conservation” on to their product to gloss over the reality of their existence. Zoos do not save animals from extinction, they only breed them to replenish their stock. Another argument as to why a lot of animals cannot be reintroduced back into their natural habitat is because they no longer have a natural habitat due to world over-population which is increasing. So I agree with you on the sterization suggestion but as well as me, it should really include a few more humans in that.
I don’t mean to be ‘preachy’ but there is another side to zoos and I am entitled to my own opinion.
Please watch “Earthlings”, “Blackfish” and “The Ghosts in Our Machine”. It might be of further help to you.
As a fellow sentient being, the same as the fellow sentient beings held in zoos, ask youself this question, “Would I like to live my whole life like that?”.
On the ball
I don’t agree with Zoos.
Thankfully zoos can’t talk so it’s a one sided argument.
I didn’t know India had lions… I thought they were only found in Africa. Learnt something new today!
Should name the cub Gismo
have your say