Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The meeting between the EU and Latin American and Caribbean states was a welcome development. Given the current geopolitical situation, the EU needs friends at this time. The risks posed by Russia and China are something of which the EU is very much aware.

Many interesting snippets emerged from the summit last July. For example, we learned that the UK was unhappy that the final ten-page declaration contained a reference to the Islas Malvinas, or Falkland Islands, at the insistence of Argentina, so the fall-out from Brexit continues. The Irish delegation's rooms were commandeered by the Colombian, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan delegates, as well as European Council president Charles Michel, in order to hammer out an agreed wording regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I guess that was practical diplomacy in action.

What is the Irish position concerning the Mercosur trade deal with the EU? Trade deals are generally good for Irish companies and businesses, but I am aware of concerns in the beef and dairy sectors regarding environmental standards. We need to ensure that the same standards apply to Latin America as to the EU. In short, we need tougher environmental protections in this proposed deal.

Was there any discussion at the summit of the destruction of the Amazon rainforest? Continued deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is releasing carbon emissions and causing catastrophic biodiversity loss. The current President of Brazil, Mr. Lula da Silva, is certainly doing much more in this regard than his predecessor, President Bolsonaro. I am interested in whether this issue was addressed at the summit.

Was there any discussion at the summit regarding the drugs cartels in South America and the illegal drugs trade to Europe? As we know, this is very much in the news today in Ireland.

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