Mercosur 'threatens Irish farmers' says Sligo/Leitrim Senator

Sligo/Leitrim Labour Party Senator, Nessa Cosgrove has welcomed the announcements made yesterday that Ireland will vote, today, against the Mercosur trade agreement tomorrow.

The Labour Party spokesperson on Community and Rural Development, welcomed the decision, but criticised the last minute nature of the decision, claiming that it undermined attempts to form a multi-national coalition to prevent the deal entering into European Law.

Senator Cosgrove said:

“Mercosur is a deal that threatens Irish farmers, food quality for consumers and undermines environmental commitments. Now that Ireland has decided to vote against, we can expect Ministers and Irish MEPs to come under pressure to back the deal. It is essential that they hold the line and oppose this agreement outright at EU level.

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It is right that Government has confirmed that Ireland will vote against the Mercosur deal, but this decision has come far too late in the day. For months, Irish farmers, environmental groups and rural communities have warned about the damage this deal would do, while Government dithered.

This dithering undermined opposition to the deal in Italy and some other European countries with significant farming populations. The Mercosur agreement which has been pushed aggressively by the European People’s Party, which Fine Gael belong to throws Irish farmers to the wolves.

Irish farmers produce the highest-quality, grass-fed beef in the world. Our beef is produced to the highest standards, in terms of animal health and welfare, adhering to the highest quality environmental standards. High environmental standards benefit farmers, animals and consumers who should not be exposed to unacceptable levels of antibiotics or hormones.

Mercosur opens the door to 99,000 tonnes of South American beef entering the European market. This is produced to much lower standards, with much less regard to animal welfare, the health of consumers and its environmental impact. Beef production in South America accounts for around 65 percent of tropical deforestation. At a time when the environmental crisis is accelerating, it is indefensible for the European Union to sign off on a trade deal that incentivises the destruction of vital ecosystems. We cannot lecture the world on climate leadership while actively rewarding deforestation through our trade policy.

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Since Ireland joined the European Union in 1973, we have seen advances in Worker’s Rights across the continent. How can the European Union be considering doing business with countries, such as Brazil, where the Ministry of Labour and Employment between 1995 and 2024 recorded up to 17,300 workers as being employed in conditions analogous to slavery. Slave labour is often used further down the supply-line, out of sight of inspectors, clearing rain forests, occupying indigenous lands and ranching cattle.

Mercosur directly undercuts quality Irish producers, environmental standards and workers’ rights.

We need Government to go beyond a last minute announcement and take a firm, consistent position.

I fully support the farming and environmental groups who continue to oppose the Mercosur deal at every level. The Government must urgently rebuild alliances with other agricultural economies in Europe, and push instead for trade agreements that protect farmers, uphold high standards and align with climate action.”