49. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the interactions she has had with the European Commission in respect of the decision to provisionally apply the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement. [49317/26]

59. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on any recent developments regarding Mercosur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50022/26]

76. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on engagements or meetings she has had in respect of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement since January 2026. [49318/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 59 and 76 together.

The Programme for Government, published in January 2025, stated that the Government would work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.

On 9 January 2026, EU Member States voted on the EU-Mercosur Agreement, including to grant the Commission the authority to provisionally apply the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) once the EU and at least one Mercosur country had ratified it. That vote was carried by a qualified majority. Ireland voted, clearly and unambiguously, against the approval of the Agreement.

Given that all four Mercosur countries and the EU had completed their internal ratification procedures by March 2026, the Commission decided to provisionally apply the ITA on 1 May.

I and other Government Ministers, along with officials, have engaged extensively at EU level to voice our concerns with the Agreement. This engagement included European Council meetings, sectoral Council meetings, including the Foreign Affairs Council for Trade Ministers, bilateral engagements in EU Member State capitals, numerous phone calls at ministerial level, working party-level meetings, and ongoing direct dialogue with the European Commission. This engagement has continued since January 2026.

As a result of this engagement and efforts made by Ireland and like-minded Member States in the Council of the EU, it is important to state that hard-won improvements have been made to the overall Agreement package, including a new legal act to operationalise bilateral safeguards to protect sensitive products, a financial safety net for farmers, strengthened sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls along with a 50% increase in audits and checks, and commitments on the alignment of production and SPS standards, notably on pesticides and animal welfare. The Commission also committed on 7 January to enhance the availability of CAP funding to farmers and rural communities under the proposed new MFF.

On 13 May, the Commission confirmed that Brazilian beef and other products will be banned from the EU from 3 September unless Brazil complies with EU rules on antibiotic use in animals throughout their lifetime. This shows that EU SPS rules and standards are being applied and enforced.

The Government has noted the decision of the European Parliament earlier this year to refer the agreement to the European Court of Justice, concerning the compatibility of the Agreement with the EU Treaties. In this context, President von der Leyen has emphasised the ‘provisional’ aspect of the application of the Agreement. In line with the EU Treaties, the Agreement can only be fully concluded once the European Parliament has given its consent.

I and Government colleagues continue to engage with the European Commission and with other EU Member States to ensure the full implementation of the commitments obtained from the Commission to address our concerns with the Agreement, including the safeguard provisions.