The proposed Mercosur trade agreement is a bad deal for Irish farmers and consumers. I held a public meeting in Athenry earlier this week and there is serious concern about this deal and the impact it would have on our beef industry and family farms. The Government should be doing everything in its power to stop this deal but it is not. For weeks, the Tánaiste and his colleagues have dodged answering the simple question of whether they will vote against this deal. The Taoiseach is in Brussels today. He was unable to answer what way the Government would vote. It is unacceptable that at such a critical moment for Irish agriculture, the Government is unable to set out its position. I have one simple question for the Tánaiste: will the Government vote yes or no to Mercosur?

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