Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

It is really important that the Commissioner fully understand how food is produced in Ireland. I ask him to come to Mayo and travel around to see how food is produced, particularly beef. It is radically different here than in other parts of the world. My main concern relates to the regulatory differences and the uneven playing field. In the tillage sector, we see how genetically modified produce is being imported into Ireland and sold as the equivalent of our native produce. This is happening currently under EU trade deals. What guarantee can the Commissioner provide that this will not happen in relation to Mercosur deal and to beef? It is obviously totally unfair.

Would the Commissioner agree it is unfair to create a playing field that is so unlevel that genetically modified imports are competing at market prices with our native grain and that the tillage sector on its knees as a result? Does he agree that the consequence of the Mercosur trade deal will effectively be to increase unfair practices in the beef sector?

My final question is about the safeguards that were mentioned. The Commissioner said prices can reduce by up to 9%-----