Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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451. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals that he will outline at the EU Agriculture Council in relation to the absolute need to protect food production in Europe, with particular reference to the food sector in this country, in all discussions on the proposed Mercosur trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66906/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government is clear, whereby it includes a commitment to “work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal”.

Irish and EU farmers are subject to complex regulations requiring them to farm in a sustainable manner, and we want the Commission to ensure that all food imports to the EU are farmed in a sustainable manner. We also want the Commission to ensure that food safety standards continue to be rigorously enforced in respect of all food products imported from third countries.

Along with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, who has lead responsibility for trade policy, I have actively engaged with both the European Commission and with other Member States across the EU to voice these and other concerns in relation to the EU-Mercosur Agreement.

During these engagements, we have also repeatedly emphasised Ireland’s requirements for credible, legally-binding commitments on matters relating to trade and sustainable development, including climate, biodiversity, and deforestation protections. We have repeatedly emphasised that beef in particular is a very sensitive sector, which is vulnerable to negative impacts from the Mercosur agreement.

Since my appointment as Minister earlier this year, I have raised these concerns at Agri-Fish Council meetings and also with like-minded Member States through bilateral meetings on the margins of these Council meetings. In recent months, I have met with my French, Italian, Austrian, Latvian and Polish counterparts to exchange views.

Ireland's position on the EU-Mercosur Agreement remains as clearly outlined in the Programme for Government.