Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, I am glad that Deputy Adams is watching my video messages. They seem to be having some traction, at least in terms of getting accurate messages across, not only to the public but also to opponents. I have intervened already. I met President Juncker in Tallinn specifically to talk about Mercosur. I met the IFA about it. Deputy Adams can be sure that many of those at the ploughing championships and the Iverk agriculture show in Kilkenny raised it with me.

I left President Juncker in no doubt or Ireland's position with regard to our beef sector. I reminded him of his state of the Union speech in which he stated that we do not only export products and services, we also export our standards and values. I said that I expected that to be reflected in any free trade deal, that our standards of animal welfare, of animal health and of food safety would be reflected and written into any trade deal. I also expressed my opposition to an offer of the scale that Deputy Adams mentioned. That is the position of the Government.

We need to bear in mind, however, that free trade deals are not only about one sector or one part of one sector. They are about a whole picture. We have to judge what is best for the Irish economy in the round, what is best for Irish jobs in the round and what is best for Irish people's incomes in the round. That is how we approach free trade agreements. We look at them in the round. What I want is a Mercosur agreement, a trade agreement between the EU and Latin America, that would be of benefit to Ireland. I cannot see myself or the Government, or the Dáil - it would require the ratification of the Dáil - approving a free trade agreement that did not do that.

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