Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. They are very efficient beef producers. We would find it hard to compete with them. There is no doubt about that. They are paying high tariffs on their products at the moment. If access were granted as a result of a deal, it would be phased in over a period of six or seven years. I share the concern and that is why we are doing everything possible in respect of the cases that the Deputies have made about the standards issue, the air miles, the carbon footprint and the Brexit argument. All of those issues are important. However, it should be borne in mind that other member states have other interests. They would trade beef for automobile access for example, etc. We are but one of 27 or 28 member states. It is something we are extremely active on.