Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
45. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the information he can provide as to the accuracy of reports that the EU is preparing to offer a tariff rate quota of 85,000 tonnes of beef in the Mercosur trade negotiations; the maximum level of quota that he will accept in the interests of beef farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41649/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are now firm indications that the question of a Tariff Rate Quota for beef is under discussion with Mercosur.
My information is that a Tariff Rate Quota of 70,000 tonnes is under discussion. A coalition of Member States, led by Ireland and France, signed a paper opposing such a move, and opposed such a proposal at last week's Trade Policy Committee. It should be understood, however, that some Member States support a deal.
I and my officials have been very active in highlighting the potentially very damaging impact of a Mercosur deal on the European beef sector.
At political level, I have raised the issue with my Member State colleagues and with Commissioners Hogan and Malmström. These efforts have been reinforced at official level through similar contacts with Member States and the Commission, and the Taoiseach raised the matter with President Juncker in Talinn last week.
I also continue to monitor the situation closely in co-operation with my Government colleagues, particularly the Tanaiste, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Taoiseach.
The Commission responded to the strong lobbying by Ireland and others by excluding a beef Tariff Rate Quota, TRQ, from the offers exchanged with Mercosur on 11 May 2016. I am very concerned at this new proposal.
Any consideration of this matter must take into account the findings of the Commission’s recent assessment of the cumulative impact of trade deals on the agri food sector, and the potentially very damaging impact of Brexit on an already delicately balanced EU beef market. I can assure the House that I will continue to work with like-minded Member States to ensure that the interests of the Irish and European beef sectors are protected.
