Michael Fitzmaurice demands Ireland oppose Mercosur deal

First of all, to all the members on behalf of Independent Ireland, Happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. To all the staff in here who, without them, our jobs would be fairly tough. We want to thank all the staff in here and I also want to thank the people in Egg House, the gate people there. Some might not associate with the Dáil, but they are there every morning at 7 o'clock in Trinidad at night. I think we should thank each and every one of them for the way the facility is. It is disturbing, to say the least, to see water cannons throwing water on farmers in Brussels this morning, where farmers have gone from different countries to protest over Mercosur in Brussels. We know the ins and outs of it. This has been going on for a long, long time. We know that yesterday proposals that were put forward by many Irish MEPs and indeed European MEPs in amendments have been basically thrown to one side again. Ursula is on a mission. Ursula is on a mission to jump on that plane to go over and sign the dotted line, because she believes Mercosur and other stuff is more important than that she is prepared to sacrifice basically the farmers of Europe. And as I say, we are not going to go over and back debating that we are looking through it or whatever. We know what is there. The people of Ireland are wondering, first of all within your government circles, and I am going to be very straight and blunt here, there is hints coming out and I want you to categorically state whether it is or it isn't. There is stuff coming out that we are being told that Mercosur, basically shut your mouth guys, you have been told, and on the fishing that we have been shafted because if you get the derogation guys, that's it, and go with us after that or we will put manners on you. I want to know, is there any truth whatsoever in that? But the one and most important thing I want, and I am not going to be here all day talking about it, it is a yes or it is a no. Will ye make a statement for the Irish people opposing the Mercosur deal and state very clearly that you will join Italy, France, Poland and the other countries which will get enough of a minority or majority, whatever way you want to put it, that will block this deal. That's all I am asking. Yes or no. And if I don't get a clear answer, I will take it that it is a no that you won't do it. Take your money on that one. You are not going to get a clear answer. Well, let me try. Thank you to Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising the issue. First thing, I think it is highly unlikely that there is going to be a vote before the end of the year. I think that is indicative of the fact that I do not believe the blocking minority has disappeared. The second point, the programme for government says two things. It says that the government will oppose the Mercosur deal in its current form. And it secondly says, along with the same, I am paraphrasing, but it says we will work with like-minded countries in relation to that. The government has significant concerns in relation to Mercosur in its current form. The Taoiseach this morning in Brussels made it clear that while there have been some safeguards produced, that he believes, I think he used the phrase additionality, and needing to see more in relation to that. The work continues is the first point. This idea that there could be a vote today or tomorrow does not seem to me to be the case. The second point, though, and I heard you say it, and you said it in all sincerity, and I do not doubt that, but you know, will we stick with this country and that country and the other country and this country? The God's honest truth is, and I have said this to farmers, and I have said this to farmers in Galway, and I have said it to farmers in Clare, and I have said it to farmers, and we have said it to farmers anywhere, does the blocking minority still exist is a key question. Because you have never, unlike others in this House, you have never engaged in performative politics. Is there a blocking minority? And you can pick up as you do, newspapers are clippings, and this country is thinking of changing its position, and I heard this, you know, I have read this in international media, maybe Italy is going to vote, maybe France is going to vote, but neither of them have indicated that they are changing their position so far. So Ireland is working with like-minded countries, which currently has a blocking minority in relation to Mercosur. We have significant concerns about the deal in its current form, and we are not intending to do anything that ends the blocking minority. I am asking the question though, is everybody in that group of like-minded countries still resolution their opposition? And it is absolutely appropriate that all members of Government, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Trade, Minister for Agriculture, myself and everybody in Government, would continue to work with those like-minded countries to ascertain when a vote actually does come. What way is Italy going to vote? What way is France actually going to vote? Because you are saying, I don't mean this rudely, but you are saying things with kind of great certainty, would we join with Italy and would we join with France? Is that going to be their position when it ultimately comes to a vote in Europe? That is what the Programme for Government says, opposing current form, work with like-minded countries. That is what we are going to continue to do. There is a whole variety of issues we are working on for farmers at a European level and for fisheries, and there is an extraordinarily really disastrous and negative outcome on fisheries at Europe last week, and we are going to have to respond as a Government in terms of how we can support that sector too. But our position in relation to Mercosur remains as per the Programme for Government. Every Wednesday night we press a button here and we decide whether we go far or against something. We lose some, we win some, but that is what you do, you make a decision. Poland has made a clear-cut decision. France has asked that it would be kicked out to the new year. That is the least that Ireland could do, that they could issue a statement to join France on that. But whether we are on the winning side or the losing side, we have to be on the side of our farmers. And our farmers are very clear in stating that they do not want that deal. And I am a believer we put our head on the block. Don't be afraid to ever be on the wrong side of it, for the simple reason you have made a decision. At the moment we are like a seesaw, we are neither one way or the other. And we have got to step up and make a decision. For the clarity for our farmers, and indeed, I often saw, if you lead, Poland has led in fairness. Our committee has had meetings with Poland, with France, we are going to be meeting Austria as well on Zoom. Getting their agricultural committees. And I would ask you, the least that Ireland would do, is make a statement to go online with France. And I think that if Ireland showed basically leadership, that they would go out and say, we are standing with Poland, we are opposed to this. And whether it is right or wrong, at the end, whether you are on the winning side or the losing side, we did not sit on the fence and abstain. We had the guts to stand by our farmers right around this country. And I am asking you, in the spirit of Christmas, your government to do that. So firstly, if we have not, let me join with France in saying I do not believe the vote should take place in the calendar year 2025. I do not believe it should, and I also do not believe it will, because unless everybody is saying very different things in different countries, I do not believe there is currently a blocking minority in relation to Mercosur. So I share the French position that there should not be a vote on Mercosur this side of Christmas. I do not see the issue as sides. I see the issue as what is the outcome. And is the outcome that there is enough of a qualified majority vote to stop the agreement being passed, or is there not? Ireland certainly is not going to be the one to dissolve that blocking minority. Far from it. We have very serious concerns about the Mercosur agreement, and I think some of what we have seen in the Irish Farmers Journal heightens that concern. I think you are right, heightens that concern. But also to be honest to farmers, Ireland on its own, and we have always said this, can't stop Mercosur. It is about like-minded countries, and is there a critical mass? And that work is ongoing, and you have a job to do, and you do it well, and I do not say it critically. But when you are in the Irish Government, we have to work behind the scenes, diplomatically, and engage with those like-minded countries. And I can absolutely assure you that work is underway. Thank you. Very, very much. Thank you. Thank you very much.