Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It appears that, as part of the negotiations, agriculture is being expected to take the hit for other sectors of the economy. While we all agree that trade is very important, there must be fairness. Beef, which is particularly important to the Irish economy, is being asked to take the hit so that other parts of the European economy can benefit. Unanimity is required for any deal to be passed, but the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has rolled over on the 70,000 tonnes figure. That is what he has told the House today. That alone will create a massive difference and represents a massive hit for European beef prices. It is simply not good enough.

That any deal will have to come back to national parliaments for ratification should surely strengthen the Minister's hand in pushing back and trying to fight for Irish farmers to ensure that there are not further concessions and, indeed, that we can row back the 70,000 tonnes figure because of its impact.

The Minister is unclear about whether the Oireachtas will have to ratify any tariff rate quotas. In the case of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, tariff rate quotas are provisionally applied even though ratification is not fully complete. Will the Minister rule out this applying in any Mercosur deal?

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