Ireland to vote no to Mercosur trade deal says Deputy Ryan O’Meara

Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, Ryan O’Meara, has today welcomed the decision that Ireland will be voting NO to the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal this Friday.

Speaking on the matter, Deputy O’Meara said: “I fully support the decision to vote against the Mercosur trade agreement tomorrow.

"Fianna Fáil campaigned in the last General Election with the commitment to voting against Mercosur in its current format. The Programme for Government, which I voted for and support, states that the Irish Government will work with like-minded countries to oppose Mercosur in its current format".

Deputy O’Meara stated that he believes in and supports free trade agreements: “Free trade agreements are extremely important to the ongoing development and growth of the Irish economy and free trade has been the cornerstone of our economic success in recent decades through our membership of the European Union.

"There are many positives associated with the Mercosur deal for many areas of the Irish economy – it is not all bad.

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“However, the Mercosur trade deal is a bad deal for Irish farmers and for rural Ireland. The guarantees on the quality of beef coming from Mercosur counties is inadequate, particularly Brazil.

"I have major concerns in relation to the economic impact of bringing in vast quantities of cheap, sub-standard beef from Brazil. I believe that this is a public health issue.

“Irish farmers are among the most sustainable farmers on the planet, and it would be a slap in the face to them to say that we accept the standard of farming practices in Mercosur countries.

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"We have some of the highest quality standards in Ireland and across the EU and it is inherently contradictory to suggest that we must meet these standards here while we accept beef and agri-products from Mercosur countries that do not come near meeting the same standards.

Deputy O’Meara concluded: “I have communicated these views strongly to the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil Ministers this week and I am delighted to be informed today that Ireland will vote no tomorrow.”