Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The EU-Mercosur trade agreement will significantly affect beef farmers and rural Ireland. However, urban Ireland is not disinterested in the issue. The agreement seems to be unfair on Irish beef producers. The main point brought to my attention is the carbon footprint of those producing beef in South America. It is a concern that rainforests are being cut down for beef production and, anecdotally, we hear of hormones being given to the animals. It seems that Irish beef suppliers are being thrown under a bus in order that German car manufacturers can sell their Mercedes and BMWs to the South American market without having to pay any tariffs. The Taoiseach needs to come out and say he will not ratify the agreement. We should have a debate on this agreement in the House next week. Urban Ireland does not want to see a decline in rural Ireland. They are with their countrymen in thinking this is a bad agreement.

Last week, I raised the issue of water quality in Dublin Bay.The bathing season is upon us. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, announced earlier it would conduct a formal investigation into the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant on foot of amateur drone footage of leakages. We did not previously have access to such footage because drones were not available but, thanks to this footage, it has become clear that there is a problem at the plant. I am sure the plant managers have been aware of it but nothing has been done.

Irish Water stated that the problem will continue until investment is put into the plant but the effect that has on Dubliners, particularly those who live near the sea is that they cannot bathe. Beaches are being closed this summer and it seems as if that will continue. We need to examine the type of investment the Minister is going to put into the wastewater treatment plant. Dublin Bay is a UNESCO biosphere. It needs to be protected and we are not doing that at the moment.

The third issue I raise relates to the waiting list for women seeking gynaecological appointments with their consultants. There are 30,000 women in the country waiting for an appointment, some of whom have been waiting over two years. This is unreal and unimaginable. The Minister for Health needs to address this matter in the House today. It is very unfair. It is not only affecting young women; women of all ages are waiting for appointments with their gynaecologists.