Written answers

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Trade Agreements

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of his meetings with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and with the European Commissioner for Trade in relation to the proposed Mercosur trade deal; if he has outlined total opposition to such a deal given the adverse impact on European agriculture of such a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8624/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have been very active in recent months in highlighting the potentially very damaging impact of a Mercosur deal on the European agriculture sector, and on the beef sector in particular. I have continuously raised the issue with Commissioners Malmström and Hogan, both within the Council of Agriculture Ministers and in written form. I also continue to monitor the situation closely in co-operation with my Member State colleagues, as well as with my Government colleagues, particularly the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Taoiseach. These efforts are being reinforced at official level through similar contacts with other Member States and with the Commission, particularly through the Special Committee on Agriculture and the Trade Policy Committee.

Ireland has already expressed its very strong concerns in relation to the latest developments in these negotiations. These concerns have been reinforced by the large number of Member States who have spoken on this issue at recent Council and Commission meetings. They have also been expressed in joint papers presented by large groupings of Member States (including Ireland) at these meetings, and in written correspondence from Member State Ministers (again, including Ireland) to the Commissioners for Trade and for Agriculture.

In the course of such contacts Ireland has pointed out that an exchange of offers is premature, and that any movement in these negotiations must be undertaken with great caution, and following a period of careful reflection and analysis. This analysis must take into account the cumulative impact of concessions granted under other FTAs and the current forecasts for EU beef consumption. We are also trying to ensure that tariff rate quotas are not dealt with at this early stage of the negotiations, and that when they are ultimately addressed, it will be in a manner that mitigates to the maximum possible extent the potential impact on the beef sector.

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