Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have spoken about the 80,000 beef farmers in this country and, on average, they spend approximately €30,000 annually in their local communities. We must bear in mind the major losses that will accrue if we sell ourselves down the swanny. Any deal with Mercosur is a shockingly bad deal for Ireland, including its beef, dairy, poultry and pig farmers. I noted the Minister's comments earlier that this may not be a done deal and I sincerely hope it is not. We should bear in mind that cattle in Brazil are not tagged and there is no database or traceability. Hormones, beta agonists and other growth promoters are widely available but these products are all illegal in the EU. Foot and mouth disease is endemic in Brazil. A European Union food business operator audit in Brazil indicates that written guarantees provided by the Brazilian authorities were not reliable. Bearing all this in mind, has there been an assessment of the health of those who consume that beef? Bearing in mind the potential losses to local communities, has there been an assessment of cost to the Irish beef farmer if any deal is done?

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