Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has spoken to his counterparts in other EU member states in relation to the non-binding side attachments to the Mercosur trade deal, specifically in relation to deforestation and food safety standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36361/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Since the announcement last December by the European Commission that it had concluded negotiations and agreed a new “additional instrument” with Mercosur, my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and previously the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have been engaged in analysing this text.

Throughout the negotiations, Ireland consistently highlighted that the agreement should include legally binding commitments on sustainability, including climate, biodiversity and deforestation protections. As it stands, it is not clear that the additional legal instrument negotiated by the European Commission with Mercosur provides those legally binding assurances.

Both I and the Tánaiste, as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, are in ongoing engagement with our counterparts in the European Commission and in other Member States to voice our concerns in relation to the agreement.

As Minister, I have had the opportunity to raise concerns at Agri-Fish Council since my appointment earlier this year. I have also held bilateral meetings on the margins of the Council in recent months with French, Austrian and Latvian counterparts where we exchanged views on these concerns.

As we await the European Commission's proposal as to how the ratification process will proceed, which is expected shortly. Ireland will continue to engage with like-minded Member States and at the appropriate EU fora on our concerns.