Mercosur no vote right call for Laois farmers, insists Laois representative

The Government’s decision to vote against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is the right call for farmers in Laois, according to Willie Aird TD.

The Fine Gael representative who has a dairy farm in Portlaoise also claims the Government's stance to vote against the trade deal with South American countries signals protection of Ireland’s agri-food business sector.

The deal will see 99,000 tonnes of South American beef coming into the EU and many millions of euros worth of other goods and services going in the other direction. A majority of EU leaders are set to back the deal, which will see it signed.

The benefits of the deal have not persuaded the Irish Government to support the deal. Dep Aird lauded this position in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“This Government will stand firmly with Irish farmers. We will not support any trade deal that undermines the high-quality, high-standards food system that our farming families work tirelessly to uphold.

“We will always defend the integrity of Irish agriculture. Farmers here operate to some of the highest environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards in the world. Any trade agreement must match those standards and support—not jeopardise—our climate ambitions and rural communities.

READ ALSO: Laois farmers urged to unite against Mercosur at protest in Midlands

“In its current form, the Mercosur deal falls far short. It does not provide the guarantees Irish farmers deserve, nor does it align with the EU’s own environmental and sustainability commitments," he said.

Willie Aird pictured at a Dáil Committee.

READ ALSO: Laois farmers urged to unite against Mercosur at protest in Midlands

Deputy Aird claimed that Ireland’s stance sends a strong signal at EU level.

“We will not allow economic opportunity to come at the cost of human health, rural livelihoods or climate responsibility. Ireland will always back fair, sustainable trade—but we will never sign up to a deal that puts our farmers at an unfair disadvantage,” he said.

Farmers have been strong opponents of the deal, claiming hit will badly damage Ireland's beef sector. Apart from the damage to the incomes of beef farmers, they say rural communities will suffer.

The four pillar countries in the Mercosur group are Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Venezuela is suspended while several other countries are associate members or want to join the bloc.