On behalf of Independent Ireland, I wish a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year to the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Members and the staff, without whom our job would be fairly tough. I also want to thank the people on the gate in Agriculture House. That are some who might not associate the latter with the Dáil, but they are there every morning at 7 o'clock and work late into the night. We should thank each and every one of them for the way they facilitate us.

It was disturbing, to say the least, to see water canon being used in Brussels this morning on farmers from different countries who are there to protest about the Mercosur agreement. We know the ins and outs of this. It has been going on for a long time. Yesterday, amendments put forward by many MEPs from Ireland and other European countries have been basically thrown aside. Ursula is on a mission to jump on a plane, go over and sign on the dotted line because she believes that Mercs, etc., so more important that she is prepared to sacrifice the farmers of Europe.

We are not going to go over and back debating the fact that we are looking through this or whatever. We know what is there. The people of Ireland are wondering what is going on within Government circles. I am going to be very straight and blunt. There are hints coming out, and I want the Tánaiste to categorically state whether or not they are true. We are basically being told to shut our mouths when it comes to Mercosur and about the fact that we have been shafted on fish stocks. We are being told, "If you get the derogation, guys, that's it. Go with us after that or we'll put manners on ye." Is there any truth whatsoever in that?

The most important thing I want know - I am not going to be here all day talking about it because it is yes-no answer - is whether the Government will make a statement on behalf of the Irish people in opposition to the Mercosur deal and state very clearly that it will join Italy, France, Poland and the other countries in order to get a sufficient minority or majority, whatever way you want to put it, that will block this deal. That is all I am asking. I want a "Yes" or a "No". If I do not get a clear answer, I will take it as a "No" and that the Government will not do it.

I will take the Deputy's money on that one. He is not going to get a clear answer.

Let me try. I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising the issue. It is highly unlikely that there will be a vote before the end of the year. That is indicative of the fact that I do not believe that the blocking minority has disappeared.

The programme for Government sets out two things. It states that Government will oppose the Mercosur deal in its current form and, I am paraphrasing here, that we will work with like-minded countries in relation to that. The Government has significant concerns regarding the Mercosur deal in its current form. In Brussels this morning, the Taoiseach made it clear that while there have been some safeguards produced, we need to see more. I believe he used the word "additionality" in that regard. The work continues. That is the first point. The idea that there could be a vote today or tomorrow does not seem to be the case.

The Deputy asked - I do not doubt that he did so in all sincerity - asked if we will stick with this, that and the other country. The God's honest truth is, and I have said this to farmers in Galway, Clare and elsewhere - I would say it to farmers anywhere - whether the blocking majority still exists is the key question. Unlike others in this House, the Deputy never engages in performative politics. Is there a blocking minority? The Deputy picks up on newspaper reports that this country is thinking of changing its position. I have read in international media that maybe Italy or France are going to vote a particular way. Neither country has indicated that it is changing its position.

Ireland is working with like-minded countries, which currently have a blocking minority on the Mercosur deal. We have significant concerns about the deal in its current form. We do not intend to do anything that ends the blocking minority. However, I am obliged to ask whether everybody in that group of like-minded countries remains resolute in their opposition. It is absolutely appropriate that the Taoiseach, the Minister for trade, the Minister for agriculture, myself and everybody else in the Government should continue to work with those like-minded countries to ascertain when a vote actually comes what way we, Italy, France and other countries will vote. While I do not mean this rudely, the Deputy is saying with great certainty that we should join with Italy, join with France and join with others. Will that be their position when it ultimately comes to a vote in Europe?

The programme for Government states that we should oppose it in its current form and work with like-minded countries, and that is what we are going to continue to do. We are working on a variety of issues for farmers and for the fishery sector at European level. We had a disastrously negative outcome on fisheries in Europe last week. The Government is going to have to respond as to how we can support that sector too. Our position on the Mercosur deal remains as per the programme for Government.

Every Wednesday night, we press a button here and decide whether are for or against something. We lose some and we win some, but that is what we do; we make a decision. Poland has made a clear-cut decision. France has asked that the matter to be kicked out to the new year. The least Ireland could do would be to issue a statement and join France in that regard. Whether we are on the winning side or the losing side, we need to be on the side of our farmers. Our farmers are very clear in stating that they do not want that deal. I am a believer that we should put our heads on the block. The Government should never be afraid to be on the wrong side of something, if only for the simple reason that it can state that it made a decision. At the moment, we are like a seesaw; we are neither one way nor the other. We have to step up and make a decision in order to provide clarity for farmers.

In fairness, Poland has led on this.

Our committee has had meetings with Poland and France. We will be meeting Austria on Zoom. We are talking to their agriculture committees. The least Ireland should do is make a statement that it will be in line with France. If Ireland showed leadership and said we will stand with Poland and we are opposed to this-----

I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice.

Whether it is right or wrong, and whether you are on the winning side or the losing side at the end, at least we did not sit on the fence and abstain. We had the guts to stand by our farmers right around the country. I am asking the Tánaiste -----

Put the question.

----- in the spirit of Christmas for his Government to do that.

First, 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 also do not believe it will because unless everybody is saying very different things in different countries, I believe there is currently a blocking minority in relation to Mercosur. 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 one of sides but in terms of what is the outcome. Is the outcome that there is enough of a qualified majority vote to stop the agreement being passed or not? Ireland certainly will not be the one to dissolve that blocking minority - far from it.

Do not forget. Human health should matter as well. It is serious.

Sure. We have very serious concerns about the Mercosur agreement. Some of what we have seen in the Irish Farmers’ Journal heightens that concern. The Deputy is right. However, to be honest to farmers, we have always said that Ireland on its own cannot stop Mercosur. It is about like-minded countries and whether there is critical mass.

But every block builds the house.

That work is ongoing. The Deputy has a job to do and he does it well, I do not say that critically. However, the Irish Government has to work behind the scenes diplomatically and engage with those like-minded countries. I can absolutely assure the Deputy that work is under way.

The Taoiseach would want to tell his MEP. She was cheering it on television recently.