Dáil debates

Tuesday, 9 July 2019

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed)

 

8:40 pm

Photo of Michael FitzmauriceMichael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is not that people are against trade deals, although I have heard that thrown out during the debate. I do not often agree with Deputy Boyd Barrett but, in fairness, on the Lisbon treaty he is correct. We have lost our veto and we need to be honest with people about that. There are Brexit headwinds in the UK, where 70% of our beef is sold. Unfortunately, our suckler herd is in trouble and prices for beef have been pulled again. That is because of factories, Brexit and the climate debate. Every time one turns on the television, the farmer is almost the villain of the world. I walked down the street today to the Irish Farmers Association briefing. The air I breathed today was an awful lot different to what I breathed last night at home. It was totally different. Before any cost-benefit analysis or anything else is done, there is a reality to consider. Some 80,000 farmers, families, partners and children rely on the beef and suckler industry. Most of them are from counties Donegal to Kerry and out to County Longford. The sector has to be protected. No matter how the maths or sums are done, there will be a wipeout if Brexit happens. It will be one belt after another.

The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, spoke about doing deals with Cambodia. From what I have read, the measures are similar to being shown a yellow card in a football match but a country can receive five yellow cards from the EU. If a country indicates it will change this, that or the other, the EU will say "Okay" and the country can plod along again. We know the history of the countries in question. We know about the rotten meat and the lack of traceability. They will sign up to everything and say they will do everything but they will cod the EU. There is no point in saying it. Ultimately, 80,000 farmers, families, houses and people living in rural parts of Ireland will be affected.

When the Ministers go their respective Councils of Ministers, will they oppose this proposal? Will Fine Gael Members of the European Parliament, who are part of the European People's Party grouping, oppose this when it comes before them in three years' time? It may come before that. Will alliances be made with different countries on this? I know Macron welcomed the deal straight away and he has let down the French farmers. Will the Government make alliances with the different countries to see if it can get what it needs to block this deal?

Farmers in Ireland have heard about the climate action plan. The South Americans can cut down forests the size of football pitches every minute and haul meat across the world. We export meat but in this country we have traceability and high standards are maintained by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In fairness, we produce a grass-based product. Will we tell those in Europe that we will not stand for this proposal? Deputy Ferris will propose a motion to the Dáil tomorrow, so will we put in place a legal document as a message from Oireachtas Members on behalf of the people of Ireland before the Dáil within the next three or four months? Will the Government commit to a legal document indicating that we will not accept this deal?

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