Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

229. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an analysis has been undertaken on how much Irish beef exports would be displaced if the Mercosur deal is ratified at the EU level; and the actions that will be taken to support the Irish agricultural industry if the Mercosur deal is finalised and implemented. [20535/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Indeed, recent developments in the global trading environment have highlighted the importance of market diversification via an expanded set of EU free trade agreements (FTAs). EU FTAs support more opportunity for exports and investment, help support jobs and growth at home, maintain strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, and support better environmental and human rights standards around the world.

We have always been clear, however, that such agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that our farmers’ livelihoods must not be undermined through weak or ineffective environmental standards in other countries.

Our position is clearly outlined in the Programme for Government, and we continue to work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.

Throughout the negotiations on the EU-Mercosur Agreement, Ireland emphasised the need for credible, legally binding commitments on matters relating to trade and sustainable development, including climate, biodiversity, and deforestation protections, as well as protections and assurances in regard to incomes of farmers in Ireland.

The independent Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment for Ireland (ESIA), published in 2021, estimated that as a result of direct or bilateral and indirect impacts of the Agreement, Ireland’s overall global exports will increase by 0.24%, or ‚ €1.1 billion, by 2035.

The EU currently imports around 200,000 tonnes of beef from Mercosur annually. The ESIA suggests that the increase in imported beef to the EU as a result of the Agreement would be closer to 50,000 tonnes once fully phased in, due to shifts in utilisation of existing and new quotas. The ESIA concludes that the EU Mercosur Agreement could translate into a maximum reduction in the value of Irish beef output of between €44m and €55m.

The Agreement includes a safeguard mechanism that could be activated where necessary in order to protect the most vulnerable sectors from significant market impacts.

The Government’s engagements with the Commission are continuing as we seek sufficient clarification on the priority areas of climate, biodiversity, deforestation and the protection of farmers’ incomes in advance of any final decision on the Agreement.