Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
57. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the involvement his Department has had with regard to the economic and sustainability impact assessment of the Mercosur trade agreement. [26981/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the announcement of the political agreement between the EU and Mercosur on a Free Trade Agreement, a whole-of-Government review on the impact of the agreement on Ireland was initiated.
The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, in collaboration with my Department, commissioned consultants to carry out an Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Ireland. This study involved consultations with a wide variety of stakeholders, including many from the agri-food sector. An official from my Department is a member of the project steering group overseeing the ESIA.
Work by the consultants on the ESIA is well advanced. The Report will be published once it has been received and considered by Government.
