I have continually opposed the Mercosur agreement. I should call it a deal because it should not be an agreement. I want to ask who the Government serves. Does it serve its EU masters and try to be the best boys and girls in the class out there or does it serve Irish farmers, who have worked so hard and tirelessly to contribute to our economy? Whose interests does the Government serve? I am so concerned that it is willing to sacrifice a sector that has helped us in the bleakest times and helped keep the lights on when things were bad in the country. The Government is willing to sacrifice all that and turn its back on Irish farmers. It is absolutely disgraceful. Not alone is the Government willing to sacrifice that sector but it is willing to put people's health at risk as well by allowing inferior beef to come into the country. It really is shocking. I am asking for a simple thing to be done here. How serious is the Government's opposition? It came out in the last few days to say it was opposed but how serious is that? If the Government is serious about opposing then it should ensure it disapplies the agricultural elements of the deal. We are not agreeing. The people have spoken loud and clear in Athlone. I was there. There were thousands of people. Surely the Government is here to serve them and not to appease Germany or Ursula von der Leyen. The Government needs to serve the Irish people. They have spoken. People are so disillusioned. I spoke to many people who were not from farming backgrounds and they expressed concerns and views along the lines that if the EU could do this to France, the largest agricultural exporter, and could do it to our beef farmers after destroying our fisheries, then how could they believe it had their interests at heart on any other issue? It does not have our interests at heart and the Government needs to disapply the agricultural elements immediately. We have already sacrificed too much in Ireland. Our fisheries have been decimated. Do not let the same thing happen to agriculture. I am saying loud and clear that there are solutions. The Government needs to stand up and forget about being the good boys and girls in the class in Brussels. It needs to stand up and represent the interests of the people who elected its members to this House.

Sentiment score: -0.01