Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also raise the trade agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Before the Minister comes to the House, people should sit down and read the trade agreement. It is important to have a balanced discussion rather than sound bites based on IFA press releases. The agreement is far-ranging and analysing the detail is important. If we support climate-change measures, as I do, we need to be honest and say that this will cost. Ireland or Europe cannot deal with climate change alone; it must be dealt with in an international context. We have seen Trump running away from the USA's responsibility on climate change with a breach of the Paris accord.

Tying Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay into the Paris accord is a very important element of the trade agreement. The trade agreement becomes null and void if the countries do not sign up and maintain their commitments under the Paris accord. I heard Senator Boyhan speak about slashing down forests. That is happening at the moment. However, a condition of the agreement is that Brazil signs up to the re-afforestation of the rain forest. It sets clear targets on that and the trade agreement will collapse without that.

It is also about civic society and freedom of association. Many people talk about the right to collective bargaining, something we have fought for in this country. The right to collective bargaining is also specified in the accord.

I also have concerns about animal welfare. However, again the agreement requires those countries to reach clear standards on animal welfare. The agreement makes stipulations about antibiotics. They are required to meet the 100% standard for food to be imported into the EU. That will improve food safety across the globe and will address the misuse of antibiotics, which affects us all.

Before the Minister or the Taoiseach comes to the House to discuss this, Senators should stop reading the IFA press release and go and read the agreement. I am not saying it is perfect but we have two years to get improvements. Let us have an honest discussion. Let us stop playing to the audience. Addressing climate change will cost and we need to sit down and negotiate in a reasonable manner with the rest of the world to try to save the planet.