Following the Taoiseach's meeting with President Macron yesterday and the European Council meeting during the week, I ask for an update in the context of the programme for Government commitment to protect farm incomes on the beef offer under the Mercosur trade discussions. Can the Taoiseach update the House as to why the Government permitted that 70,000 tonne beef offer to be made if it is opposed to it, given that the final agreement will have to be accepted by all countries? Is it the case that neither the Taoiseach nor President Macron put up any resistance to that at the European Council meeting or that they did not discuss it in any serious way at yesterday's meeting?

That is not really promised legislation.

Not really, but I am happy to answer briefly. President Macron and I are very much aligned on this issue. We both support Mercosur because free trade is, on balance, a good thing for the Irish economy, creating jobs and revenue. This deal will potentially be eight times bigger than the deal with Canada and, as such, it is something we should be positive about. We have a particular interest and concern, however, in respect of the beef sector, which could be adversely affected by this at the same time that it might also be adversely affected by Brexit. As such, President Macron and I agreed yesterday that France and Ireland would work closely together on this to ensure that we do not see our beef industry and farmers subjected to unfair competition and that environmental, welfare and other standards are at the highest level. As the Deputy is aware, international trade is a European competence under the treaties. It is part of what one signs up to when one becomes a member state that international trade is a competence of the European Union, not of national governments.