William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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143. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to safeguard Irish farm competitiveness in the face of ongoing EU trade negotiations, including Mercosur, the EU-UK agreement, and US tariff policies on Irish agriculture; if he will request mandatory safeguards to prevent Irish beef, dairy, and tillage producers being undermined by imports produced to lower standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55029/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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In general, trade agreements are positive in their outcome from an EU and Irish perspective and provide further opportunities to find premium markets around the globe for Ireland's quality food and drinks products, given the sector's strong export focus.

However I am clear that trade agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that our farmers’ livelihoods cannot be undermined through weak or ineffective production standards in other countries. All imports into the EU must comply with EU standards that protect food safety, animal and plant health.

My Department continues to closely monitor ongoing negotiations and ratification processes of TAs and in particular Mercosur, to ensure that EU standards remain central to each agreement and that the interests of Irish agriculture are defended. Along with the Tánaiste who has lead responsibility for trade policy, I have also raised concerns on numerous occasions regarding preferential access being granted with the Commission, when farmers in the Mercosur bloc may not be subject to the same sustainable farming standards as our own.

The Commission recently announced its proposed approach to ratification and its proposal for a regulation implementing the bilateral safeguard clause within the Agreement in relation to agricultural products. My Department and the Department of Foreign affairs are currently examining these proposals in detail to see if they provide any of the additional assurances required.

Pending that examination, Ireland's position on the EU-Mercosur Agreement remains as clearly outlined in the Programme for Government: ‘Work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal”.