Irish MEPs to oppose EU-Mercosur deal amid backlash

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Patrick O’Donovan has said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael MEPs will oppose the EU-Mercosur agreement when it is brought to the European Parliament.

Speaking on Limerick’s Live 95 radio, the Minister for Culture said government party MEPs are “bound” by the programme for government and the decision by the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon not to support the deal.

On Friday, EU envoys provisionally approved the trade deal with Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay – but it still needs to be approved by the European Parliament.

It has been opposed by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and has also seen internal disagreement within Government, including with independents who supported the formation of the coalition.

IFA president Francie Gorman described the news as “very disappointing.

He said: “This morning’s outcome shows that the Irish Government was not alone in expressing deep reservations about the deal and what it means for farmers and public health.

“The Commission cannot ignore the scale of the opposition to the deal.”

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said: “The Mercosur Trade Agreement is not fair.

“It’s not fair to Irish farmers, who have to compete with food raised to much lower welfare standards.

“It’s not fair to Irish consumers, who will be exposed to beef reared using excessive hormones and pesticides.”

The Government confirmed on Thursday that it would not vote for the deal in its current form.

Mr O’Donovan said MEPs would also have been a part of the programme for government negotiations which outlined how the government would oppose the agreement.

He said a Parliamentary Party meeting held on Thursday night was an “opportunity for our TDs and senators and MEPs to voice their concern”.

A protest against the deal is expected to take place in Athlone on Saturday.