Today is a critical day in the fight against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, when the European Parliament will vote on whether the deal should be referred to the European Court of Justice. That referral is essential. It is about ensuring that the trade agreement is legally compliant with the European Union's obligations on climate action, sustainability, human rights and the Paris climate agreement.

These are not abstract concerns. The Mercosur agreement raises serious questions about deforestation, environmental destruction, food safety standards and human rights protections. If the deal is incompatible with EU law, then there is no place for it to move forward. That is precisely what the European Court of Justice must be allowed to assess. Many Irish MEPs have publicly stated their opposition to the Mercosur deal and today is the moment when words must be matched with action. If MEPs are genuinely opposed to this deal, they must vote in favour of referring it to the court.

This referral does not delay justice; it seeks it. It ensures proper legal scrutiny before irreversible damage is done to Irish farmers, our environment and public trust in European decision-making. The Mercosur deal would undermine the livelihoods of Irish farmers by allowing in products produced to lower standards than those in place here. It would weaken environmental protections at a time when we should be strengthening them and send a message that trade trumps climate and human rights obligations. It is not too late to stop this deal.

I urge the Government to actively support the referral. I urge all Irish MEPs to vote in favour of it today. The public, farmers and rural communities are watching closely. The House should be absolutely clear that the Mercosur deal must be stopped and every available legal avenue must be used to do so.