Last Friday Poland announced that it will file a complaint against the EU-Mercosur trade deal at the Court of Justice of the European Union. As I understand it, this is the first member state to take this step. This follows the European Parliament's earlier referral, which I welcomed as a rare victory for common sense and prudence. Irish beef farmers have been warning for years that this agreement threatens their livelihoods, our food standards and our national interest. Yet, Government opposition has too often looked like political damage limitation rather than principled action. Today I call on the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and the Minister for foreign affairs to follow Poland's lead immediately and lodge Ireland's own challenge today at the ECJ and use every legal and diplomatic lever available to protect our primary producers before provisional application begins on 1 May. Our farmers cannot afford another EU deal that puts free trade above food security and food standards.

I thank the Deputy. I make the broad point that this country, including Irish farmers, benefits hugely from free trade. Most of what we produce in this country in the agrifood sector is sold abroad. We are a better and more prosperous nation, and farmers are better and more prosperous, as a result of free trade. However, we had specific concerns about Mercosur because level playing fields, common application of standards and environmental issues matter too. That is why we did not vote in favour of the Mercosur deal and agreement. I know the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade was in Poland this week meeting her counterpart. I will seek an update from her as to whether they discussed the issue of Mercosur and whether there are any plans for us to take further action.