Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has accused the Government of talking out of both sides of its mouth over its supposed “opposition” to the Mercosur trade deal.

The Dublin MEP said: 

“Following pressure from climate activists, farmers and Sinn Féin, the Government claimed in the Dáil that it was opposed to the Mercosur trade deal.

“However, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has failed to clearly rule out opposing this deal when asked by Sinn Féin if the Government had given formal notification to the European Commission of its opposition to Mercosur.

“This follows a failure by the Taoiseach to rule out opposing the deal at an IFA conference earlier this month in Kildare.

“Mercosur is a rotten trade deal that is bad for people and planet. It will incentivise the further deforestation and destruction of the Amazon and will put huge pressure on Irish farmers.

“Deforestation is one of the greatest environmental catastrophes of our time and pushing a trade deal that will directly incentivise this practice can only be understood as a form of climate denial, when we see the effects of the climate crisis so clearly before us.

“Sinn Féin is resolutely opposed to the Mercosur trade deal. It offers nothing positive for Ireland and will lead to environmental destruction and bad outcomes for our farmers.

“Waiting for negotiations to conclude on an additional legal instrument for a bad trade deal, will not reduce the damage Mercosur will cause to the environment and farmers.

“The Government is talking out of both sides of its mouth when they tell Irish farmers that they are opposed to this deal.

“Unless the Government notifies the European Commission now of Ireland’s opposition, we’ll know that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil can’t be trusted on Mercosur.”