Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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84. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on engagements he has had with like-minded EU counterparts with regard to Ireland’s opposition to the Mercosur trade deal as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42447/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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. 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, which states that the Government will work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal. In our trade negotiations, we have always been guided by standing up for and defending the interests of Irish farmers, along with securing enhanced market access opportunities for them and Irish agri-food exports.

I wish to assure the Deputy that I and my officials have continued to engage at EU level – with both the European Commission and with counterparts in EU Member States, including like-minded countries – to voice our concerns with the agreement and to interrogate the outcome of negotiations to assess if our concerns have been adequately addressed. In recent weeks, I have discussed international trade developments including the Mercosur agreement with my counterparts from France and Germany, among others.

We are still awaiting the Commission’s presentation of the final, consolidated agreement. In this interim period, engagements with the Commission and with other EU Member States are continuing as we seek sufficient clarification on the priority areas of climate, biodiversity, deforestation and the protection of farmer’s incomes in advance of any final decision on the Agreement. Ireland’s position on the EU-Mercosur Agreement remains as clearly outlined in the Programme for Government, to work with like-minded EU countries to defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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85. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his engagements with UK and EU counterparts with regard to the 2026 review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42448/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that we build on the recent progress made in the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The UK remains a key partner for the European Union and a strong and positive relationship is beneficial for Ireland.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for a joint review by the UK and European Union of the implementation of the Agreement five years after the entry into force and every five years thereafter. The first such review of the Agreement will therefore take place in 2026.

The review will take place in the context of a significant evolution in the EU-UK relationship, following the EU-UK Summit in London on 19 May, at which the European Union was represented by President von der Leyen and President Costa. At the Summit, both sides reached agreement on a forward-looking and balanced agenda for cooperation across a range of policy areas and signed a Security and Defence Partnership.

As Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I engage extensively with my EU and UK counterparts on issues of importance to Ireland, including on EU-UK relations. The Minister for European Affairs also engages with his EU colleagues through the General Affairs Council, which has principal responsibility for the EU-UK relationship.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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86. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his engagements with EU counterparts with regard to the re-examination of the EU-Israel Association Agreement as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42449/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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At its meeting on 20 May, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed to a review of Israel's compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland and Spain called for this step in February 2024.

I welcome that the review of Israel’s compliance with its obligations under Article 2 has now been finalised. It is clear from the review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations. This is a significant finding. At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 June, the High Representative said she would communicate this clearly to Israel. I was clear with my EU counterparts at the that meeting that there must now be concrete options for follow-up action to this review.

Ireland welcomed the inventory of possible follow-up measures to the review of the Association Agreement provided to Member States in advance of the July meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. Ireland continues to press for appropriate follow-up action at EU level. We have called on the EEAS and the Commission to undertake further work in this regard. In response to the HRVP's announcement that Israel had agreed to certain commitments with the EU on humanitarian access to Gaza, Ireland recalled that, while any improvement in humanitarian access would be welcome, any agreement by Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law does not negate the violations that have already taken place.

Last month, I joined nine other EU Foreign Ministers in writing to the High Representative calling for the EU to undertake a detailed review of its compliance with the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ. This review will now be taken forward in parallel to the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It is essential that the EU abide by its commitments under international law.