Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very honoured to speak here on behalf of the people of west Cork. I wish to raise an important issue concerning not only the farming community but one that also poses a real risk to public health and safety. I refer to the Mercosur deal which is a proposed trade deal between South American countries and the EU which will result in the importation of up to 80,000 tonnes of beef into EU member states. This deal, if allowed to go through, will have a detrimental effect on the Irish beef industry and will affect the Irish economy. Up to 90% of the beef produced in Ireland is for the export market and this deal would have the potential to destroy the beef industry.

I also wish to highlight the potential health and safety issues associated with the potential deal and pose the following questions. What type of animal welfare regulations are in place in those South American countries? What type of traceability regime is in place? What type and standard of certification will be attached? In recent decades a very strong regime of traceability has been put in place both here and across Europe with the aim of safeguarding public health.

These are very difficult times for all farmers in Ireland. The dairy sector is going through huge difficulties at present with a major drop in milk prices. That has come very quickly on foot of the single farm payment fines for small farmers. If the proposed EU deal goes ahead, it could lead to many farmers going out of business. Today, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association, ICSA, is holding a protest outside the offices of the European Commission office and the Dáil at 1.30 p.m. to highlight the major concerns it has on the Mercosur deal. I call on the Government to take all steps possible to oppose the deal in order to protect public health and safety and to safeguard the livelihood of all those involved in the industry.

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