I begin by reiterating that the Government rejects entirely the arguments and assertions put forward in the Sinn Féin motion. As stated by the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, the motion does not at all acknowledge the serious and diligent work undertaken by the Government and by numerous Government Ministers at European level with like-minded EU member states to oppose the EU-Mercosur agreement and to defend the interests of Irish farmers and rural communities. I have heard from many tonight that they wanted to hear us shouting and roaring over that period.
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When at some point Sinn Féin gets an opportunity to be in government - it has experience north of the Border - it will know how diplomacy works. When people have the privilege and obligation to work on behalf of the people, they do so behind the scenes and they work generously. We set our frame forward when we entered government with a programme for Government that set out clearly that we were against the Mercosur agreement as it was constituted. The Government worked tirelessly with like-minded member states that shared our concerns about the agreement with the objective of standing up for Irish farmers, protecting the rural economy and ensuring Ireland's voice was heard clearly and credibly at EU level because that is where the decisions were being made. This effort was led by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs and defence who engaged extensively with EU counterparts. These are all matters of public record. Efforts to build a blocking minority were sustained over time and took place across multiple forums, at European Council meetings, sectoral meetings and bilaterally. We did not focus our efforts on member states alone. There was close and direct dialogue with the European Commission, including during the visit of the trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, in October last year and at the agricultural ministers political meeting with Commissioners Hansen, Šefčovič and Várhelyi last week. As the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, set out earlier, the purpose of that broad-based engagement was twofold. It was, first, to attempt to build a blocking minority of member states and, second, to seek substantive changes and safeguards that would have meaningful impact and address some of Ireland's concerns. Thanks to these serious efforts by the Government alongside like-minded member states, real improvements to the agreement in the form of tangible flanking measures and supports for farmers have been achieved. I am taken by some of the theatrics tonight. I do not question the validity of anyone's mandate, but there have been some theatrics in recent days. It reminds me of the wannabe Texas rancher - big hat but no cattle. I will turn to the broader context in which this debate sits and underline a central truth that has guided the Government's approach throughout. Ireland is and will remain a trading nation. Trade is not an abstract policy for this country. It underpins our economic success, our employment base and, essentially, our living standards and that includes those of our rural communities. Our openness to the world and willingness to engage, compete and build partnerships beyond our shores is what has allowed a small island nation to develop a global economic footprint far beyond its size. Through our membership of the European Union, Ireland benefits from access to the world's largest trading bloc from an EU trade policy that opens markets, reduces barriers and creates opportunities for Irish business. That remains a core strategic advantage of our economy and in that context, the Government acknowledges the EU-Mercosur agreement has the potential to enhance trading and investment opportunities between Ireland and the Mercosur region. I have heard the flippant remark that it is giving away Irish beef for German cars. There is a company in Galway that employs 1,000 people and makes products for the automotive sector, and there are many more around the country. Deputy Healy made the point that the agreement was just for other countries. We have a significant pharmaceutical sector that would benefit from this. However, Ireland already has a significant and growing trading relationship with Mercosur. In 2024, Ireland exported goods worth approximately €820 million to those countries, while services exports in 2023 were valued at approximately €1.8 billion. Taken together, total trade between Ireland and Mercosur, including goods and services in both directions, is worth about €4.1 billion. These figures matter. They demonstrate that Mercosur is not a hypothetical market for Ireland, but a real and increasingly important trading partner. The agreement could open further opportunities for Irish exporters across a wide range of sectors. These include business and professional services, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, medical devices and advanced manufacturing. The agreement would also improve access to Mercosur public procurement markets, offering Irish companies new opportunities to compete for major contracts in rapidly developing economies. There are also potential benefits for parts of the agrifood sector, beyond our most sensitive areas. Opportunities exist for processed food and dairy products as well as for alcoholic beverages and spirits. In addition, the agreement would provide protection for two important Irish geographical indications, Irish cream liqueur and Irish whiskey, helping to safeguard the authenticity and reputation of iconic Irish products in international markets That comes at a time when there are issues with our trading into the United States and the tariffs that apply there. There are tangible and significant benefits and the Government does not dismiss them. On the contrary, they are an important part of our overall assessment of the agreement. The then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment for Ireland of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, published in June 2021, found that the agreement could have broadly positive impacts for Ireland overall. Taking into account direct and indirect effects, the assessment estimated that Ireland's global goods exports could increase by approximately 0.24% or €1.1 billion. It is also important to consider what this could mean for small and medium enterprises, as 97% of Irish exporters are small companies. For many of these businesses, exporting outside the EU can be particularly challenging due to tariffs, complex customs procedures and administrative burdens. The EU-Mercosur agreement has the potential to help to address these challenges. It would reduce costs by eliminating tariffs and simplifying customs procedures; ease administrative burdens by making it easier to certify products for local sale; and improve access to public procurement opportunities by increasing transparency and access to information. For many Irish SMEs, these changes could be the difference between being able to enter a new market or not. The Government recognises all of this. We recognise the opportunities, the potential benefits for exporters, enterprise, services and job creation. We recognise the strategic arguments made by the European Commission and other member states in favour of the agreement. However, the role of the Government is not simply to catalogue the potential gains. It is to assess the full picture, weigh opportunity against risk, consider distributional impacts and ensure progress in one part of the economy does not come at an unacceptable cost to another. In Ireland's case, agriculture and the rural economy are not peripheral considerations. They are central to social cohesion, regional development and national identity. While the agreement may deliver benefits for some sectors, the Government concluded on balance and after exhaustive engagement that the risk to Irish agriculture and rural communities had not been sufficiently mitigated. That is why Ireland voted against the signature of the EU-Mercosur agreement in line with the programme for Government commitment. I am setting out for the House the journey that was taken by the Government and the conclusion. I heard a few contributions stating we should have made our position clearer earlier. We worked our way constructively with other member states to try to build a blocking minority. I know how that has worked against us, with respect. I know it from the fisheries perspective.
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Yes, because others worked together to block us. The Deputies opposite know the facts of this.
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They know full well that this decision does not diminish Ireland's commitment to trade with the European Union or to the international engagement. Rather, it reflects a careful, evidence-based judgment that trade policy must be fair, sustainable and balanced. The Government will continue to engage constructively as the process moves forward, including ahead of the European Parliament vote. We will continue to advocate for the strongest possible implementation of safeguards, standards and commitments secured through Ireland's engagement. This is the balanced and responsible approach the Government has taken throughout. It is one that recognises opportunity, confronts risk and places the long-term interests of the Irish people in urban and rural areas at the centre of decision-making. For those reasons, the Government stands by its position, commends its amendment to the House and reaffirms its commitment to Irish farmers and rural communities, to Ireland's future and to the outward looking trading nation we are. While the Deputies seek to undermine our activities here, I have heard no one - perhaps one or two on the other side - give any credibility to the work of the Government on the retention of the nitrates derogation-----
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-----or the reopening of market access for beef to the Chinese markets. This Government has shown time after time a commitment to rural communities. Time after time, it has delivered for rural communities. We can all get up here and shout and roar, but the reality is that I, as someone who was born and bred in a rural community and brought up on a small farm,-----
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-----know how much agriculture has changed over the past 50 years. I know what engagement within the European Union has meant and I am shocked by some of the utterances, that some people say our future would be better - I am not saying Deputy Kenny said this but it is part of this narrative - outside the European Union.
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Sadly, the Deputy and I know that is not the case.
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Which European treaty did Sinn Féin support? We would not be there today if it was up to Sinn Féin.
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Every day.
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It would have passed either way.
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That is the European Parliament now.
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