Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)

This week Brazilian beef on sale in the EU and the North of Ireland has been recalled due to the presence of banned cancer-linked hormones. The Mercosur trade deal will not only impact the health of farmers and their livelihoods; it will also impact the health of the general public. It is about what the Government is willing to let the public consume. The thoughts that children in Ireland could be eating beef containing these banned cancer-linked hormones should be setting off alarm bells. It is the Taoiseach not worried? I can tell him that as a mother I am worried. I am worried about the risk it poses to my family. This should be black and white. Our health and the health of our families should not be put at risk for the benefit of a trade deal. What levels of testing have been carried out on Mercosur beef coming into Ireland? Will the Taoiseach stand by and let the Commission push this deal on us even if it affects our public health?

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