EU Ombudsman findings demand immediate halt of Mercosur ratification – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy TD has called on the government to bring forward its review of the Mercosur Trade Deal in response to findings from the EU Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, that the delays in publishing a Sustainability Impact Assessment amounted to ‘maladministration.’
Teachta Carthy said:
“This trade deal will open Europe up to an additional 99,000 tonnes per year of beef imports from Brazil and other Mercosur states.
“At a time when government claims that it is striving to expand afforestation at home, it is non-sensical that we would endorse a trade deal that will lead to the destruction of rain forests in South America.
“The Mercosur deal will have a detrimental impact on Irish beef farmers who have already operating at unsustainable margins.
“A sustainability impact assessment is unnecessary for anyone with a semblance of sense to realise that this trade deal will result in further damage to the environment abroad and less money in the pockets of farmers at home.
“However, the determination of the EU Ombudsman leaves absolutely no doubt that the ratification of this noxious trade deal should be immediately halted. Ireland should take the lead in this regard.
“Last November the Minister for Agriculture confirmed to me in the Dáil that the government was carrying out its own economic and sustainability impact on the effects of the deal.
“The government needs to immediately bring forward the publication of this review so that the full threat posed to Ireland is apparent before the government attempts to yet ahead press again with a disadvantageous trade deal”.
ENDS
