Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. There is no doubt that it is of very significant concern. The Deputy will be aware that the Taoiseach, along with the President of France and the Prime Minister of Poland, made a very strong case even very recently. Ireland has been consistently raising this, indeed as far back as when I was Minister with responsibility for trade, and that goes back quite some time. This was an issue of very significant concern then and Irish Ministers never lost the opportunity to raise it. The original proposal sought 300,000 tonnes of beef and that would certainly have been devastating in its impact. The agreement we now have, which is only an agreement at principle level, provides for 99,000 tonnes of beef, 45% of which will be frozen. In addition, there are very clear statements that there can be absolutely no compromise on food standards that apply within the European Union markets.

The other thing that needs to be borne in mind, which is why the Taoiseach says we need a proper evaluation of the proposed deal at this stage, is that there are other benefits in it for Ireland. It includes 45,000 tonnes in the dairy sector and it includes many other sectors in which we have companies such as medical devices, pharma, chemicals, and food opportunities. Those sectors will see gains to be had in this. While the Deputy has remarked on the situation we face with Brexit as raising particular concerns, it also underlines the importance for small open economies like our own to have access to markets, particularly growth markets where we can look to the future to build opportunities. Another reason the evaluation will be important is that, contrary to what Deputy Micheál Martin is suggesting, the deal requires parties to subscribe to the Paris Agreement. It also includes specific issues around forest sustainability within these countries, so there are significant elements of environmental protection, and protection in respect of labour law and respect for international agreements such as that of the International Labour Organization. We need to take the time to evaluate this as a whole, as the Taoiseach has said. We have made our position abundantly clear throughout the very long negotiations that have taken place on it.

We will continue to press those concerns. We need to undertake that evaluation and look at how to deal with it as it unfolds. Finalising the legal documentation will take a number of years and there will be a phasing period, over six years, in the context of implementation. We need to draw back. While we understand fully the concern of beef farmers, we need to evaluate it in the round and continue to press Ireland's very strong case.

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