Ciaran Mullooly, MEP for the Midlands–North-West constituency, has written to Independent TDs in the region urging them to make opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade deal a red line issue in the upcoming government formation talks.
At the same time, he is "working intensively" to forge alliances among EU MEPs to block the controversial agreement at European level.
Mr Mullooly has described the deal as “an immediate threat to Irish farmers, rural communities, and the EU’s own environmental and legal integrity".
Highlighting the ongoing decline in Ireland’s suckler herd, which has seen an average annual reduction of 10 per cent in recent years, Mr Mullooly warned that Irish beef farmers are already under unsustainable pressure.
“This deal will create a surplus of beef in the EU market, with cheap South American beef produced under far weaker environmental and labour standards.
“Irish farmers already bear the additional costs of meeting the highest environmental standards in the world, and this deal forces them into unfair competition that could devastate our rural economy.”
Mullooly cited a government-commissioned Enterprise Ireland report, which estimates an initial financial hit of over €55 million for Irish farmers if the deal is ratified.
“Economists warn that this is a conservative estimate. The true cost, including indirect impacts on rural economies, will likely be far higher. This is not only about farmers—it’s about safeguarding entire communities.”
The MEP also criticised the lack of enforceable safeguards in the agreement.
“Unlike other trade deals with countries like New Zealand or Canada, this deal includes no binding mechanisms to ensure compliance with environmental or labour standards, arbitration panels can only issue recommendations as part of this deal, not enforce penalties, rendering these provisions ineffective” he said.
"There is nothing in this deal to properly safeguard against imports of beef treated with hormones banned in the EU and linked to deforestation in Brazil—practices that would be illegal here.”
Calling for decisive action, Mr Mullooly urged Independent TDs from the Midlands North West to demand that opposition to this deal be prioritised in government talks.
“The new government must take a firm stance against this deeply flawed agreement. At EU level, I am working closely with like-minded MEPs to build a strong coalition to try to block this flawed and legally questionable deal.”
