Dáil debates

Thursday, 4 July 2019

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

 

12:30 pm

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One issue the Government is not on the same page on is the Mercosur trade deal. We have had different Ministers say different things over the past number of days. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and others have, quite rightly, outlined how devastating this will be for the beef sector, and other Ministers have talked up the deal. Commissioner Hogan told us we need to look at this in the round and look at this on balance. The reality is this is a bad deal for Ireland. What Ireland needs is a clear unified line from the Government, wearing the green jersey, making sure that Irish interests are protected and making sure there is a clear, unambiguous, consistent, unified position coming from the Government and, indeed, from across this House, that this deal is not in our interests. That very sharp message has to go back to the European Commission because this is devastating for beef farmers and many other farmers right across the State, including in my own region in the south east, where we have a strong agrifood sector.

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