Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question on the assessment of the potential impact on the agrifood sector of the EU-Mercosur deal. As was stated at the time of last year's EU-Mercosur political agreement, Ireland was disappointed with the inclusion of a 99,000-tonne tariff-rate quota for beef from Mercosur countries. If ratified, this quota would be phased in under the agreement in six equal tranches over five years. Of the quota, 55% is for fresh high-quality beef, with the remainder being frozen.

The former Taoiseach and current Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar, announced at the time that a whole-of-government review of the agreement's economic and sustainability impacts on Ireland would be undertaken. This research is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which has overall responsibility for trade policy, with specialist input and assistance from my Department. Implement Consulting Group was requested to carry out this work and the report is due to be completed shortly. It will help to inform Ireland's approach to the ratification process, which is expected to commence in the first half of 2021 during the Portuguese EU Presidency.

Notwithstanding the review, I am concerned about the impacts that such a trade deal could have on our livestock sector. There are potential positives, but we should be concerned about the possibility of beef produced less efficiently coming into the EU. The EU needs to look on the trade agreement in that light. There must be equivalence between reductions within the EU and what we expect of imports entering the Union. This is particularly the case from the points of view of sustainability and the environment. The 99,000 tonnes of beef that are referred to in the deal should be considered in that regard. The tariff-rate quota's potential impact on European beef production, and Irish beef production in particular, is concerning.

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