Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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12. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government’s position on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement in light of its potential impact on Irish beef exports valued at €2.8 billion annually; and if Ireland will formally oppose the agreement at Council level. [46945/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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14. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland intends to use its voice at EU Council to oppose the EU-Mercosur agreement on grounds of its negative impact on Irish agriculture; and if he has raised this objection formally with the European Commission. [46948/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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15. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consultation that has taken place with Irish farm organisations regarding the Mercosur deal; and if their concerns have been incorporated into Ireland’s negotiating position. [46949/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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19. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the recent engagements he, his Department and the wider Government have had with the EU regarding the Mercosur trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47427/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the assessment that has been made of the precedent the Mercosur trade agreement would set for future EU trade deals, particularly in respect of trading away European agricultural standards in exchange for geopolitical concessions. [46952/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the Mercosur trade deal; if he will ensure in all negotiations at EU level that food production in Europe is protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47550/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 14, 15, 19, 73 and 87 together.

The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Indeed, the increasing uncertainty in the global trading environment has 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, 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.

Throughout the negotiations of this agreement, the Government made clear to the European Commission Ireland’s key requirements in regard to the deal. We repeatedly raised concerns in relation to our priority areas of climate, biodiversity, deforestation, as well as protections and assurances in regard to incomes of farmers in Ireland.

I wish to assure the Deputies 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 months and weeks, I have discussed international trade developments including the Mercosur agreement with my counterparts from France, Germany, and the Commission, among others.

The Government has remained in regular contact with stakeholders during these negotiations, including the agriculture, environment and business sectors, as we sought to fully understand their concerns. Specific to Irish farm organisations, most recently, in late August, I discussed the concerns of farmers with the leaders of farming representative organisations along with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

It is now important that we take time to assess the package text in its entirety to understand if our concerns with the agreement have been adequately addressed. As part of this process, I and my officials will intensify our engagement with the Commission, with like-minded EU Member States, and importantly with stakeholders in Ireland in the period ahead.

Pending that examination, Ireland’s position on the EU-Mercosur Agreement remains as clearly outlined in the Programme for Government.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has assessed the risk that the concession of 99,000 tonnes of beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry imports under the Mercosur agreement will depress farmgate prices for Irish producers; and to publish that assessment. [46946/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has concerns about the future impact on CO2 emissions standards arising from Paragraph 8 of the Joint Statement on a United States-European Union Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade ("With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other's standards."); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47094/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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77. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the meaning of reference to automotive standards in Paragraph 8 of the Joint Statement on a United States-European Union Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade ("With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other's standards); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47078/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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78. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised concerns about reference to automotive standards with the European Commission or otherwise at the European level about Paragraph 8 of the Joint Statement on a United States-European Union Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade ("With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other's standards."); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47079/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has endorsed reference to automotive standards in Paragraph 8 of the Joint Statement on a United States-European Union Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade ("With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other's standards."); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47092/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 77, 78 and 79 together.

The Joint Statement on an EU-US Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade was published on 21 August.

That deal confirms a single, all-inclusive 15% tariff on EU goods, including current Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates. EU goods will therefore be subject to a 15% ceiling tariff except where the MFN rate is higher. It also provides assurance that the 15% rate will extend to pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

The Joint Statement also includes lower tariff rate carve outs for aircraft and aircraft parts, automobile and automobile parts, with further carve outs to be determined for certain products in generic pharmaceuticals and chemical precursors. These tariff rates will be at the pre-existing US MFN rate, most of which are zero.

With respect to automobiles, as the Deputy notes, the United States and the European Union intend to cooperate on standards including for the auto sector. The implementation of the Framework Agreement outlined in the Joint Statement is at an early phase and will take place over the next period of time. My officials will be fully engaged in the process regarding the implementation of the agreement and will ensure that Irish views are considered, including in relation to automotive standards.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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17. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the aircraft leasing sector continues to benefit from tariff free trade agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47124/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Joint Statement on an EU-US Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade was published on 21 August.

That deal confirms a single, all-inclusive 15% tariff on EU goods, including current Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates. EU goods will therefore be subject to a 15% ceiling tariff except where the MFN rate is higher.

However, the Joint Statement also includes a lower tariff rate exemption for aircraft and aircraft parts which will remain at the pre-existing US MFN rate. This will ensure that trade in aircraft goods will continue on the existing zero-for-zero arrangements which has been a key request of the aircraft leasing sector in Ireland.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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18. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any assessment has been carried out of the impact of the EU-Mercosur agreement on Irish seafood exports. [47169/25]