Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It must be remembered that it is only an agreement in principle. It still has to go through a legal refinement process which could take up to two years. It will have to be voted through by a qualified majority at the Trade Council and also go through the European Parliament. On top of this, the EU-Mercosur agreement will be a mixed agreement which will require the involvement of the Dáil in the ratification process. Like any deal, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Even if the agreement does come through that lengthy process, it is important to remember that the 99,000 tonnes quota will only be brought in on a phased basis over six years. It could be possibly eight years before the full impact is felt. There is a long way to go. The agreement will provide a solid framework to address human rights issues, including for indigenous peoples.

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