Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his engagements with his Cabinet colleagues regarding the Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45810/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The European Commission reached political agreement in its trade negotiations with the Mercosur countries in June 2019. Ireland and other EU Member States raised concerns regarding the trade and sustainability commitments in the Agreement. As a response to those concerns, the European Commission commenced a process with Mercosur in 2023 on a joint legal instrument addressing sustainability commitments. The Commission continues to engage with Mercosur at negotiating team level to resolve the remaining differences between the sides. These negotiations are currently ongoing.

There is also ongoing consultation between officials from my Department and their counterparts in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which has lead policy responsibility in relation to trade policy. These discussions, in turn, have informed Ireland's position at EU level.

From Ireland’s perspective, there is no question of ratifying a Mercosur trade agreement without satisfactory and legally binding commitments on matters relating to trade and sustainable development, including climate, biodiversity, and deforestation protections. I reiterated these points at the Agri-Fish Council meeting in September.