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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I have consistently acknowledged, and the Taoiseach acknowledges, that the key Irish concern was associated with beef. Under the original proposal, 300,000 tonnes of beef would have come in from the Mercosur countries. The proposal that has emerged is based on 99,000 tonnes. Some 45,000 tonnes of that are frozen. One of the main concerns of Irish farmers is that premium cuts would be coming in. The decrease has helped to offer protection in that regard.

Another concern of Irish farmers is that the beef would be hormone beef or beef from cattle raised according to standards that would not meet European food standards. The European standards will not be diluted one jot and that has been nailed absolutely solidly into the agreement. All those standards have to be met if the Mercosur countries are to enter the European markets.

The Deputy represents a county that has not only beef but also dairy so he will know there are opportunities in the dairy sector under this deal. I do not believe Deputies could yet have had the opportunity to evaluate the various elements of this agreement. There are opportunities as well as threats and we need to use the time, between now and when the deal will finally go to the Council of trade Ministers, to go through the issues, raise specific concerns, carry out the necessary evaluations, consider, if necessary, any concerns over environmental standards, and ensure that in policing this agreement we will hold Brazil and other countries to the highest standards under the Paris Agreement, with which the trade agreement seeks compliance. We need to use this agreement to see that some of the benefits we are trying to achieve are realised and that any threats to our sector are minimised.

On the next Common Agricultural Policy, we all know the new policy will very decisively reward farmers for very high standards and improve them. It will be looking towards better methods of handling manures and fertilisers and rewarding farmers. Some 40% of the resources available under the new policy will be devoted to actions that demonstrably improve the environment and climate action associated with our farms.

We are providing the framework within which Irish farming can continue to thrive in what is a high quality sector. Let us not forget that in countries such as China there has been major growth in interest in and demand for beef. If we have a premium product and if we possess the highest possible credentials, then we can avail of opportunities in particular countries while also continuing to trade with those with which we already have trading agreements. There are opportunities as well as threats. A balance has to be struck. It is worth reading the text of the agreement in some detail. It is also worth recognising that there are threats and opportunities and that we need to work our way through them.

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