Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister should be highly aware, given the studies already carried out, of the potential impact of a Mercosur agreement in bringing additional beef into the European Union. The European Union's own assessment indicated that it would lead to a 16% drop in the prices farmers in Europe get for beef. It would also lead to a €5 billion drop in the cumulative value of the European beef market. I note that the Minister has indicated that he has communicated to the Commission that he does not want to see the 70,000 tonne quota exceeded. That constitutes him giving up the ghost and indicating his acceptance of a figure of 70,000 tonnes being part of any final agreement. Frankly, given the impact it would have on the farming sector, that is simply unacceptable. Will the Minister vote against any deal at European level that has beef as part of it? What will be the ratification process for a final deal? Will it be the case that deciding any tariff rate quota will be a European competence, or will it have to come back to be voted on by this national Parliament? Has the Minister sought the advice of the Attorney General in that regard?

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