David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the planned economic assessment of the Mercosur deal, the Minister, Deputy Bruton, was Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the past. He will know the south east is still an underperforming economy, although there has been some recovery. The Department will have carried out many economic assessments in that region given that it still does not have the same level of employment as other regions. The agrifood sector is hugely important to the south east as is the beef sector.

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