Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
56. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken at European Union level to ensure that additional beef imports which would depress beef prices and damage the environment do not enter the single market. [60881/21]
View answerThe conditions governing the importation of goods and services to the European Union, including Ireland, are determined by European Union Law and the terms and conditions of international trade agreements between the European Union and third countries, made on the basis of a rules based trading order.
As a sector dependent to a significant extent on export markets, the Irish agri food sector, and in particular the beef sector, is a significant beneficiary of the European Single Market and rules based international trading arrangements administered through the WTO.
For this reason, Ireland is broadly supportive of the framework that governs international trade, but prioritises, in its approach to negotiations on trade agreements, the protection of vulnerable sectors and the protection of the environment.
These objectives can be achieved through the limitations on preferential tariffs through the establishment of tariff rate quotas and the imposition of conditions relating to environmental compliance and adherence to food safety and other single market conditions.
It is not open to Ireland to unilaterally establish conditions for the importation of goods and services, nor would it be in the best interests of the agri - food sector for it to do so. However, any import of any product should never be at the detriment of our domestic producer.
