Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has said he continues to hold negative views on the contentious Mercosur trade deal between the European Union and a group of South American countries.
Mr Heydon, who is attending an extraordinary meeting of EU farming and fisheries ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, said he had grave concerns about the deal. But he indicated that if it was passed despite objections from the Republic and other countries, extra funding and safeguards for farmers would be sought.
Earlier on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “a lot of progress has been made” on the deal, potentially signalling a softening of the State’s opposition.
With a growing expectation that Italy will support the deal, the Republic and other opposing countries would not be able to summon the required numbers to reject it in a vote expected on Friday.
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This would mean the State’s vote against the deal would be symbolic. But some within the Government are also wary of burning political capital in Brussels with such a step.
Any shift in the Republic’s position on the deal, or a suggestion that Dublin could vote in favour of it, would likely be vigorously opposed by Independent Ministers and TDs supporting the Coalition. Government leaders are meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the matter.
Mr Heydon said the Coalition has been true to its programme for government commitment to work with like-minded countries to oppose the deal.
“If there isn’t enough to stop this, then you do need those safeguards in place for our farmers if this agreement is to come into place,” said Mr Heydon.
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The European Commission is making 11th-hour efforts to bring hesitant member states in behind the deal, including offering early access to Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) funding.
Mr Heydon said the offer could mean “potentially increased funding. We need to work through the detail of how that would work out”, he said, adding that the move from the commission was a result of pressure from countries like the Republic.
He indicated that any decision on the State’s vote would be made after a Cabinet meeting, although no in-person meeting is scheduled this week.
“If that blocking minority isn’t there, Ireland can’t do this on our own, then to make sure the best possible outcome is in place,” he said.
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Coalition leaders, including super junior minister Seán Canney, who represents the Independent Ministers in the Government, are expected to meet on the matter later on Wednesday.
Independents in the Government say they want the State to vote against the deal.
On Tuesday, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Michael Healy-Rae said they are “resolute in our strong opposition to any talk or any such thing as voting for it”.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said he was concerned about the Mercosur deal, adding that the commitment to opposing it in line with the programme for government is “rock solid”. But he also added that “obviously, we have to wait and see what further negotiation brings”.
Mr Burke, a Westmeath TD, said it was a “fast-moving negotiation” and that concerns had been raised on transparency in relation to the deal and the use of antibiotics in the beef sector. “You would need to see what mechanism the European institutions are proposing to address those key areas,” he said.
He said he was “absolutely not” fearful of losing Independent TDs from the Coalition over the issue. “We work very closely with our Independent colleagues, and that will continue to be the case,” he added.
Speaking in China earlier, the Taoiseach said he “still has concerns” over the deal but that “a lot of progress has been made” and the Government will make a decision on the matter “towards the end of the week”.
He said the announcement in respect of an improvement in the Cap is also welcome.
“That improvement has to be welcomed, because income to Irish farmers is key,” he said.
Mr Martin added that the Republic has been working with “like-minded countries” in relation to the proposed agreement and that “significant safeguards” have been negotiated in the last 12 months.
He said the issue is whether there is a blocking minority on Mercosur on Friday.
The Taoiseach added that the Government will “continue to engage with our partners in Europe on this and we will make a decision on this towards the end of the week”.
