Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
414. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has outlined clearly at the EU Agriculture Council his opposition to the proposed Mercosur trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1969/25]
View answer433. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review the position on the Mercosur trade agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1208/25]
View answer434. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review the position on the Mercosur trade agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1220/25]
View answer436. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government intends to oppose the EU-Mercosur Political Agreement and further negotiations on a trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1357/25]
View answer437. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement he or his officials have had with counterparts in EU Member States regarding the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1360/25]
View answer439. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government has notified the European Commission of Ireland's opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement since negotiations concluded in December 2024; if not, the engagements he has had with the European Commission in relation to this trade agreement since December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1369/25]
View answer458. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has outlined at EU Council level his opposition to the proposed Mercosur trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1973/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 414, 433, 434, 436, 437, 439 and 458 together.
The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Our EU membership makes us part of the growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, supporting more opportunity for exports and investment, helping support jobs and growth at home, maintaining strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, and supporting better environmental and human rights standards around the world.
We have always been clear, however, that such agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that our farmers’ livelihoods must not be undermined through weak or ineffective environmental standards in other countries.
In regard to the EU-Mercosur agreement, in addition to our specific sector sensitivities such as agriculture, Ireland has repeatedly raised concerns at EU level regarding the strength of the trade and sustainability commitments agreement. As a response to those concerns, the European Commission has been engaged in further negotiations with Mercosur on a new, interpretative legal instrument aimed at addressing and strengthening sustainability commitments. On 6 December, the European Commission announced that it had concluded negotiations with Mercosur.
I wish to assure the Deputy that my officials and I have continued to engage at EU level at every opportunity – with both the European Commission and with counterparts in EU Member States – concerning developments in relation to the EU-Mercosur Agreement, including at the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) with other EU Member State Ministers, as well as at meetings of officials in the Trade Policy Committee. I and officials have emphasised Ireland's requirements for credible, legally binding commitments on matters relating to trade and sustainable development, including climate, biodiversity, and deforestation protections, as well as protections and assurances in regard to incomes of farmers in Ireland.
Furthermore, in December I met virtually with the new Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefcovic, along with other EU Trade Ministers, where I outlined my concerns over possible unintended consequences of the agreement. The Commissioner has committed to travel to Ireland to meet with stakeholders, which I welcome as an important opportunity to engage constructively with the Commission as we seek clarifications and assurances on the legally binding nature of the commitments in the agreement. My Department is also in regular contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Department of Foreign Affairs on this matter.
Since the Commission announced the conclusion of negotiations, officials from my Department and other departments, including DAFM, have been carefully analysing the text of the additional legal instrument and have engaged with the Commission and with other EU Member States to interrogate the outcome of negotiations. These discussions are continuing as we seek sufficient clarification on the priority areas of climate, biodiversity, deforestation and the protection of farmer's incomes in advance of any final decision by Government. In advance of receiving the additional clarifications and assurances that we require on all of these issues, Ireland's position on the EU-Mercosur Agreement will remain as clearly outlined in the Programme for Government.
