Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like other Senators, I want to raise the matter of the Mercosur deal between the European Union and South American countries. We all know the possible negative implications if this deal is passed. It has the potential to absolutely decimate the Irish beef market. The current draft of the deal includes a quota of 99,000 tonnes of beef from South America into the EU market. As we know, the EU market is already oversupplied with beef and, with the possible outcomes of Brexit, this position may only get worse. We need to ensure the EU beef markets are protected not just in Ireland but in other EU countries. Our beef exports are worth €2 billion annually and that is top quality beef with full traceability. The issue with this possible increased competition is that we are not comparing like with like. These South American beef products do not conform to the same strict EU standards.

It is also very unfair to be, on the one hand, developing proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of our beef herd while, on the other hand, doing deals to allow extra beef into the EU from countries such as Brazil. Ireland's predominantly grass-fed beef is one of the most carbon efficient in the world while Brazil removes vast amounts of rainforest each year to allow for extra beef production. This must be recognised and our farmers must be supported accordingly.

I agree with others that we need an urgent debate on this matter. It is absolutely crucial that this deal is amended in order to secure outcomes for European farmers and to protect the integrity of the EU food market that has very strict regulation at the moment, along with ensuring we reduce our carbon footprint.