The EU-Mercosur trade agreement will significantly affect beef farmers and rural Ireland. However, urban Ireland is not disinterested in the issue. The agreement seems to be unfair on Irish beef producers. The main point brought to my attention is the carbon footprint of those producing beef in South America. It is a concern that rainforests are being cut down for beef production and, anecdotally, we hear of hormones being given to the animals. It seems that Irish beef suppliers are being thrown under a bus in order that German car manufacturers can sell their Mercedes and BMWs to the South American market without having to pay any tariffs. The Taoiseach needs to come out and say he will not ratify the agreement. We should have a debate on this agreement in the House next week. Urban Ireland does not want to see a decline in rural Ireland. They are with their countrymen in thinking this is a bad agreement.

Last week, I raised the issue of water quality in Dublin Bay.

The bathing season is upon us. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, announced earlier it would conduct a formal investigation into the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant on foot of amateur drone footage of leakages. We did not previously have access to such footage because drones were not available but, thanks to this footage, it has become clear that there is a problem at the plant. I am sure the plant managers have been aware of it but nothing has been done.

Irish Water stated that the problem will continue until investment is put into the plant but the effect that has on Dubliners, particularly those who live near the sea is that they cannot bathe. Beaches are being closed this summer and it seems as if that will continue. We need to examine the type of investment the Minister is going to put into the wastewater treatment plant. Dublin Bay is a UNESCO biosphere. It needs to be protected and we are not doing that at the moment.

The third issue I raise relates to the waiting list for women seeking gynaecological appointments with their consultants. There are 30,000 women in the country waiting for an appointment, some of whom have been waiting over two years. This is unreal and unimaginable. The Minister for Health needs to address this matter in the House today. It is very unfair. It is not only affecting young women; women of all ages are waiting for appointments with their gynaecologists.

I want to raise two issues with the Leader, the first of which is the Mercosur agreement to which Senator Ardagh referred. It is important that we have a debate. The timing of that is not for me. The Leader has a schedule and I know it is pretty packed up as we are approaching the end of the session and nearing the recess but it is important that we have a debate. I note, from the Business Committee, that statements are being taken on the issue in the Dáil. I do not doubt that the Minister is prepared to respond because any Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who is not prepared for this would be in serious trouble. I ask that there be some discussion in the House about this matter if possible at a time suitable to the Leader, his office and depending on the availability of the various Ministers.

Clearly, the European negotiation team involved in this agreement, as part of the Mercosur trade deal, has totally betrayed Irish farmers. An interesting statement was issued by my good friend and colleague, Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice. He stated: "This deal will devastate rural communities, particularly in the west of Ireland where the suckler and beef farming are prevalent." He went on: "It seems as if European negotiating team is willing to sacrifice the thousands of small family farms in Ireland in favour of the larger industrial sectors." Serious questions must be asked.

I want to touch on issues of traceability and quality. Later this week, we will discuss the sustainable environment and our national and international achievements and goals. On the one hand, people are slashing down forests in some of these countries and applying different standards on the quality of beef while, on the other, our farmers are complying with high standards, which is right, proper and correct, and they are being encouraged to plant and engage in forestry. There is a contradiction and inconsistency of policy and it is an issue we need to debate in this House, particularly at a time of environmental sustainability and the challenges and messages we were given by the electorate in this country during the local elections on that specific issue.

Can we have a debate on Rebuilding Ireland? The Leader indicated previously that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government would come to the House and hopefully that can happen in the next few days. It has been raised on many occasions over the past few weeks and the consistent response is that arrangements are being made to have the Minister in here. We need to address the issues of buildings, addressing voids, dealing with acquisitions, leasing, rental accommodation scheme, RAS, and housing assistance payment, HAP. These are complex issues and it is about time that we looked at the overall situation and took an assessment of where Rebuilding Ireland is today and how it is delivering. There are many good aspects to the programme and I am a good advocate for most of it, but it is timely, right and proper that the Minister comes to the House and subjects himself to questioning and engagement with Members.

It is astonishing that the Mercosur deal has been signed but no impact assessment has been done. It really shows this Government's contempt and disregard for rural Ireland. It is crazy that we have talked about this deal for months and years. I commend the work of Matt Carthy, MEP. From the beginning, he flagged the dangers of this deal for beef farmers, particular suckler cow farmers in the west of Ireland. The Government did not see fit to carry out an impact assessment. This is the same Government that is rushing to the aid of Apple to make sure one of the richest corporations in the world is protected. What about protecting our beef farmers? It speaks for itself. Farmers are not stupid. They know what is happening here.

I also wish to raise the issue of Belmullet District Hospital. I acknowledge that the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, visited the hospital yesterday and met the staff for which I thank him but I have an issue with the behaviour of his colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring. The first thing the Minister did when he stepped out of his ministerial car was to attack me and Sinn Féin. He did not care why all the people were gathered outside the hospital. He expressed his disgust at the fact that people had gathered outside the hospital, as did his Fine Gael colleague. Does the Minister think that patients and their families who need beds and healthcare really care about party politics? It was the most disgraceful thing I have witnessed during my time in politics. I know the community gathered there shares my thoughts. The Minister needs to remember that we live in a democracy. I make no apologies to him for standing up for my community and the people of Mayo. This is an important issue, not just for Erris but for the wider community in Mayo and the Mayo diaspora. We are entitled to ask legitimate questions and get truthful answers. It is astonishing that given his role as Minister for Rural and Community Development, he would take issue with the principles of community development. I will say no more.

I wish to remark on the great Gay Pride march that took place on Saturday. I was very proud that the rainbow flag flew from this great parliamentary institution, Leinster House, as well as over the GPO. I was also very proud that the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Admiral Mark Mellett, was there along with the Taoiseach and the Garda Commissioner and that An Post and the GAA - these fundamentally Irish institutions - were represented. We had the Army band, which is always a great addition to a march, and the Garda band. It is terribly important to demonstrate to young people in the country who may be isolated in small villages that the nation of Ireland stands behind them. It is also important to signal this to some of the new Irish who come from backgrounds where homosexuality is completely derided and to other nations.

I noticed that we will have statements on the environment on Thursday. I did signal to the Leader six weeks ago that I was taking this as Private Members' time so I think that is a bit of a mess. I asked him if he would change it but he said "No" so I will be taking measures to deal with this in whatever way I can. With regard to that and the Mercosur agreement, it is astonishing that without protest, or significant protest, in order to facilitate this agreement, an area in the rainforest the size of Leitrim will be destroyed. That indicates one thing to me, namely, that the EU does not give a single, solitary shit about the environment. That is the truth of the matter. Despite all the fine words and blather, the EU conspires to destroy the rainforest.

Of course the EU will have the support of Mr. Bolsonaro. It is time that people here registered the strongest possible protest. There is a difficulty with the farmers and there is no question or doubt that Irish beef is produced in the most proper and appropriate way. It is better to produce beef in Ireland, under these circumstances, rather than dragging it over from Brazil where they use hormones, where there is no traceability and that kind of stuff. This is just so Ma Merkel can sell Mercedes motorcars to Brazil. It is a thundering disgrace and I am certainly calling it out. I have sympathy for the farmers but I have a hell of a lot more sympathy for the planet.

Like other Senators, I want to raise the matter of the Mercosur deal between the European Union and South American countries. We all know the possible negative implications if this deal is passed. It has the potential to absolutely decimate the Irish beef market. The current draft of the deal includes a quota of 99,000 tonnes of beef from South America into the EU market. As we know, the EU market is already oversupplied with beef and, with the possible outcomes of Brexit, this position may only get worse. We need to ensure the EU beef markets are protected not just in Ireland but in other EU countries. Our beef exports are worth €2 billion annually and that is top quality beef with full traceability. The issue with this possible increased competition is that we are not comparing like with like. These South American beef products do not conform to the same strict EU standards.

It is also very unfair to be, on the one hand, developing proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of our beef herd while, on the other hand, doing deals to allow extra beef into the EU from countries such as Brazil. Ireland's predominantly grass-fed beef is one of the most carbon efficient in the world while Brazil removes vast amounts of rainforest each year to allow for extra beef production. This must be recognised and our farmers must be supported accordingly.

I agree with others that we need an urgent debate on this matter. It is absolutely crucial that this deal is amended in order to secure outcomes for European farmers and to protect the integrity of the EU food market that has very strict regulation at the moment, along with ensuring we reduce our carbon footprint.