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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Mercosur referendum and MEPs

Summary

Deputy Tóibín urged the Taoiseach to pressure Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil MEPs over Mercosur and to back a referral to the European Court of Justice. The Taoiseach replied that some Government-aligned MEPs would vote against the deal and rejected the Deputy’s language about “reining in” MEPs; the point remained unresolved amid back-and-forth.

My Aontú colleagues, Deputy Paul Lawless and Melissa Byrne, are in Strasbourg today lobbying MEPs to vote to send the Mercosur deal to the European Court of Justice. Our team has spoken to dozens of MEPs. A referral to the ECJ would legally freeze the agreement and allow for proper scrutiny of its environmental, competition and legal implications. While the Taoiseach's Government says that it is opposed to the deal, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil MEPs will nonetheless support the deal and hammer Irish farmers. Barry Andrews and Regina Doherty need to be reined in. Is the Taoiseach going to speak to them? This vote could be tight so why is it that only Opposition parties like Aontú and organisations such as the IFA are doing the heavy lifting on this in advance of tomorrow's vote? Where is the Government in lobbying these MEPs? Will the Government tell Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael MEPs to vote to send this deal to the ECJ? Does the Taoiseach have any control over them at all?

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The Deputy failed to mention the fact that Billy Kelleher, Barry Cowen and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú will be voting against Mercosur in the Parliament. I am intrigued by his language. I know he is a former member of Sinn Féin. He spoke about reining in these MEPs and controlling them.

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You would not get that in Fianna Fáil.

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We have a somewhat different ethos to the Deputy.

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Will the Taoiseach not-----

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Verona Murphy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

We will have one voice.

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This is outrageous. My question was not answered at all. The reason the Taoiseach is not answering it-----

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I have answered it.

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You did not.

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I have.

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You said you-----

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