Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like other colleagues, yesterday I attended a briefing on the Mercosur deal organised by the Irish Farmers Association. Representatives from the association informed us how Irish farmers are terrified at the potential consequences for the future of farming here and, by extension, the future of rural Ireland. Today, the Beef Plan movement is holding a protest outside the gates of Leinster House to highlight concerns relating to this deal, the consequences for the future of Irish farming and the future of rural Ireland as we know it. They are saying to us that the deal is a complete disaster. They say it is bad for Irish farming and for the environment.

Those of us who live in the Border region already have enough on our plates. I imagine the Leader would agree with me. The dark cloud of Brexit hangs over and it is already affecting economic life around the Border counties as we know it. There has been much talk about the extra 99,000 tonnes of beef that will come into the EU but less talk about the extra 180,000 tonnes of chicken or poultry that will come into the country as a result of this deal. As the Leader will appreciate, this could have grave consequences for the Border community. As Senators are aware, Monaghan and Cavan are home to the poultry industry. If this deal is to go ahead as presented, it will have grave consequences indeed for the communities of Monaghan and Cavan. Echoing the call of the Leader's colleague, Senator Paddy Burke, I request a debate on this matter as soon as possible. I appeal to the Leader to pass on our grave concerns to Government. This deal cannot and should not go ahead as presented. Otherwise, it will wipe out farming and, by extension, rural Ireland as we know it.