Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)

We are also hearing that the Government will come in here and tell us one story but that when the officials go out to Europe, they put a different story to the Commission. That needs to change. That is the reality. People can deny that all they like, but we see it in the text of the Minister's speech. The Minister stated that the Government is concerned about the Mercosur trade deal and that it is looking at the text. It is very vague and irresponsible. We have to take this matter seriously. The only way we can do so is for all of us to work together.

We welcome the fact the Government did not oppose our motion tonight. However, we fear it will not oppose the Mercosur trade deal with the heartfelt commitment that is needed to win this battle on behalf of the farmers in the Public Gallery, the thousands of farmers throughout the country and the hundreds of thousands of consumers in Europe that need this deal to be blocked. That is why we are here tonight. We are here to ensure that this Government is held to account.

The Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, referred to the programme for Government. The programme for Government is no good if it does not deliver. The only way it will deliver is if the Minister, and we have a new Minister now with competency in the area of trade, Deputy McEntee, who will have to go out and work on this deal. I ask that we could meet the Minister. Certainly, I would like to meet her in the coming week to put it to her that all of us need to deliver on this.

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