Tanaiste Outlines Steps Govt Taking in Mercosur Negotiations
The Tánaiste was asked about the steps he is taking to protect environmental and agricultural interests in the Mercosur trade negotiations by Social Democrats TD, Sinéad Gibney yesterday (July 10).
According to the Tánaiste, EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) support more opportunity for trade and investment, help support jobs and growth at home, maintain strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, and support better environmental and human rights standards around the world.
He said: "The government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Indeed, recent developments in the global trading environment have highlighted the importance of market diversification via an expanded set of EU free trade agreements.
"We have always been clear, that such agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that our farmers' livelihoods must not be undermined through weak or ineffective environmental standards in other countries."
"Our position is clearly outlined in the Programme for Government, which states that the government will work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal," The Tánaiste explained.
The Tánaiste claims, that during trade negotiations, the government has always been guided by "standing up for and defending the interests of Irish farmers", along with securing enhanced market access opportunities for them and Irish agri-food exports.
He explained: "Since the commission announced the conclusion of negotiations, officials from my department and other departments, have been working together to carefully analyse the text of the additional legal instrument addressing sustainability commitments.
"I and my officials have continued to engage at EU level, with both the European Commission and with counterparts in EU Member States, including like-minded countries, to voice our concerns with the agreement and to interrogate the outcome of negotiations to assess if our concerns have been adequately addressed."
"In recent weeks and months, I have discussed international trade developments including the Mercosur agreement with my counterparts from France and Germany, among others," the Tánaiste added.
The Tánaiste highlighted that the government is still awaiting the European Commission's presentation of the final, consolidated agreement.
He explained that engagements with the European Commission are ongoing as the government seeks "sufficient clarification" on the priority areas in advance of any final decision on the agreement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
38 minutes ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on the budget debate: striking a difficult balance
A clear danger is emerging in the run up to October's budget. It is that all the spare cash available will be spent as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael each try to get as many of their own policies into the package as they can, with the Independents also pitching in. Rather than taking a balanced view of the outlook, the negotiations thus turn into a haggling exercise. There were media reports this weekend of – unnamed– ministers saying that the economic outlook had not changed much and the budget can go ahead as planned. In this context, pressure will come on, in addition to the €9.4 billion package of tax cuts and spending increases outlined in the Summer Economic Statement, to have additional once-off measures. Ministerial statements, while suggesting there will not be a full cost-of-live package, have become more equivocal on this point. Ministers may be correct to believe that the short-term budgetary outlook has not changed markedly, with the US and EU striking a trade deal. But two points are relevant here. The first is that the two sides have really just set a framework for future talks and a lot remains to be signed off. Also, a separate US investigation into the pharma sector carries danger for Ireland., The second point is that, as Gabriel Makhlouf, the governor of the Central Bank has said, the Government needs to be careful not to add further demand to an already strongly-growing economy. This is all the more the case given the significant planned increase in State investment. READ MORE The balance will be hard to get right. But it must err towards caution. As well as the short-term issues, the economy is now facing significant uncertainties over the next few years. The trade environment is far from settled and tensions between the US and EU may still emerge. Meanwhile, the US president is determined to attract pharma investment back to the US from countries such as Ireland and this could threaten both jobs and tax revenue. And that is before we consider a troubled and rapidly changing international political situation. Ignoring these factors and squabbling over budget giveaways is the wrong approach.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Conor McGregor declares intention to enter Irish presidential race
Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor has announced that he intends to seek to become the next president of Ireland — but wants to change how the nomination process works to enable him to do so. McGregor, who last week lost his appeal against a High Court jury's finding that he raped Nikita Hand, made the announcement on social media on Monday evening. Anyone who wishes to become president must secure nominations from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or at least four local authorities. McGregor is alleging that this "presents a significant barrier to democratic participation". He claimed: "This system, while intended to ensure a degree of political influence among candidates, inadvertently restricts the direct voice of the Irish electorate. In light of this, I propose a petition advocating for a modification of the nomination process to allow my name be included on the ballot. In his post, McGregor said that citizens of Ireland should have the "unhindered right to determine the candidates who appear on the presidential ballot." He said he is therefore asking people to sign a petition to change the constitutional law. The current President, Michael D Higgins, was inaugurated for his second term on November 11, 2018. Therefore, the next presidential election is scheduled to take place on or up to 60 days before November 11, 2025. Two confirmed candidates so far There are just two confirmed candidates in this year's presidential race so far: Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness — a former European Commissioner and MEP — and left-wing Galway West Independent TD Catherine Connolly. Riverdance star Michael Flatley is also said to be interested in running and will seek a nomination, a court has heard. The choreographer's barrister made the announcement last month during a High Court case he has taken in relation to works carried out at his mansion in Co Cork, the Castlehyde. Meanwhile, Nikita Hand has lodged a new civil action against McGregor as well as a couple he intended to call to give evidence in his appeal, before he withdrew the application in what were described as "mysterious circumstances". Ms Hand is suing McGregor as well as Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins for damages in an action filed last week. It is understood that she alleges they engaged in malicious abuse of the process of the court.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
€16 electricity price hike fear for EVERY Irish household as data centre costs cut amid €250 budget energy credit calls
SINN Fein is demanding the Government intervene and stop another price increase on electricity bills. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is preparing to increase the network cost on bills to pay for future capital investment. 2 Sinn Fein's energy spokesman, Meath TD Darren O'Rourke 2 Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said they are not prepared to come up with a package of energy credits to help families in this years budget Credit: Getty Images - Getty Yet at the same time the price of power for the big data centres around the country, which use up a large percentage of the Irish supply, are to be reduced. Sinn Fein slammed the proposed price increase for consumers and price cut for the data centres and said the timing is all wrong - especially with over 300,000 householders in arrears. It wants the Government to come up with a package of energy credits to help families in the forthcoming 2026 October Budget. The party's energy spokesman, Meath TD Darren O'Rourke, fumed: 'The CRU is preparing to hike the network costs that you have to pay but to cut them for data centres. 'The same data centres are hoarding more and more of the energy we produce, stalling the delivery of badly needed homes and putting our grid under real pressure. 'Big energy companies are intent on continuing to jack up their energy prices, all while raking in eye-watering profits. 'The Government pretends these issues are outside of their control but they are not. They are political decisions. 'They need to scrap the cut to costs for data centres and crucially use this Budget to bring forward badly needed support to help families and small businesses who are struggling with sky high energy costs. 'The Budget must include energy credits and extend the reduced VAT on electricity and gas bills until the end of the year.' Energy Minister Darragh O'Brien has already firmly ruled out energy credits to help with electricity and heating bills in October's budget. He said the €250 credits handed out to every Irish household as part of Budget 2025 cost the State €3.5billion. But the Fianna Fail man said the lower nine per cent VAT rate on gas and electric should be retained to avoid hiking energy prices further. Speaking to the Independent, he said: "I will be bringing an interim report to Government in advance of the Budget and we will assess that as to what measures can be taken. IRISH CUSTOMERS PAYING MORE "I think the vat reduction from 13.5 per cent to nine per cent is a very important one, one that I would like to see extended into next year. That decision will be taken at Budget time." Recent figures from Eurostat showed that Irish consumers are paying on average €350 a year more for their electricity than most European countries. Irish people pay on average €1,800 a year for their electricity - 30 per cent more than the rest of the EU. The proposed increase at the moment from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities will add at least €6 a year on household customer bills. The money will be used to pay for ESB Networks and Eirgrid's proposed €14billion investment over the next five years to upgrade their networks in Ireland to meet current and future demand. Both ESB and Eirgrid are seeking €16 a year on bills. The final decision will be made later in the year.
