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The trade deal between the European Union and South America\u2019s Mercosur trade bloc signals the \u201cdeath knell\u201d for the Irish beef sector, it has been claimed.<\/p>\nThe trade deal between the European Union and South America\u2019s Mercosur trade bloc signals the \u201cdeath knell\u201d for the Irish beef sector, it has been claimed.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il leader Micheal Martin said the trade deal has angered the farming community in Ireland who face increasing pressure from Brexit and climate change issues.<\/p>\n
The Mercosur bloc and the EU agreed on a free-trade deal after two decades of negotiations that concluded amid global trade tensions.<\/p>\n
The proposed deal will allow imports of 99,000 tonnes of beef, 180,000 tonnes of poultry and 25,000 tonnes of pig meat.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin told the Dail that farming organisations have described the deal as \u201creckless\u201d and \u201cwrong\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn many ways this trade agreement is outdated in that it ignores the impact of Brexit both now and into the future,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt potentially signals the death knell of a sector that has suffered unduly in recent times.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbove all it\u2019s outdated in terms of the climate change issue and it\u2019s beggars belief that this trade agreement has been signed given the change of mindset around climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government seems to be quietly acquiescing to this trade deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe response of the government is to reward climate change deniers and people who pay no heed to it and hurting these (Irish) farms who are among the most efficient in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Government, Climate Change Minister Richard Bruton said there are \u201cgains\u201d in the agreement.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIt underlines the importance for small open economies like our own to have access to markets, particularly growth markets, where we can look to the future to build opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cContrary to what Deputy Martin is suggesting, this requires parties to subscribe to the Paris Agreement, it also includes specific issues around sustainability within these countries so there is significant elements of environment protection and in respect of labor law and international agreements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin accused the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro of favoring development of conservation adding that a hector of land is being cleared \u201cevery minute\u201d to create new pastures for cattle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the uncomfortable truth,\u201d Mr Martin added.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t tell me they are committed and pledged to the Paris Agreement, that means nothing to these political leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Bruton accused Mr Martin of \u201cdistorting reality\u201d.<\/p>\n
The government also faced pressure from Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald and Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae.<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald accused Mr Bruton of \u201cattempting to defend the indefensible\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt can be best summarized as a sell out of Irish farmers and of their families and of rural Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beggars belief that at a time when this Dail has stated a climate emergency from a government that has encouraged people not to eat beef unless, it seems, it\u2019s Brazilian, it seems astonishing you would be prepared to sign up to a deal with Brazil whose president has committed to destroying the Amazon and the indigenous communities in order to increase the profits of a few small millionaire beef exporters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Healy-Rae said: \u201cWhat is being proposed does not make sense.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe here in Ireland are being told to cut our stock of animals and plant trees.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time the Mercosur deal is being done with countries that do not have the same level of tractability or production standards and they are felling thousands of acres of rain forest to raise the beef they want to trade into our economies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy what is being proposed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Bruton added: \u201cIf we want to tackle climate change, it\u2019s not by isolating governments that we feel are not doing their bit, it\u2019s by putting more pressure on them to comply and this is an agreement that will put pressure on these countries to comply with their obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n