Sinn Fein has called on the Irish Government to oppose ratification of the Mercosur trade deal and use their influence with other member states to oppose this deal.

The party's spokesperson on Agriculture, Martin Kenny said that the Mercosur trade deal is a bad deal for Irish and EU farmers and always has been.

"Sinn Fein has been consistent in its opposition to the deal, and we will continue to stand with our beef and poultry farmers in opposing this deal.

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“We all know the issues with the deal in relation to animal welfare standards and traceability to the environmental consequences of deforestation. 99,000t of South American beef and 180,000t of South American poultry will be imported into the EU as part of the deal.

“This will impact on Irish family farms as cheap beef and poultry will push Irish produce off the shelves and, once this starts, what is to stop the volumes of South American beef and poultry being imported from increasing?," he questioned.

The Irish Government, he said, must be clear and stand up to Ursula von der Leyen in opposing the ratification of this deal and defending Irish Agriculture.

“This deal cannot be used as a bargaining chip for securing something else on either CAP or the Nitrates Derogation.

"These are three issues that will define the future of Irish Agriculture and cannot be traded off against each other. They are equally important in their own right, and should be kept separate.

“The Irish government must align itself with those other member states who are opposed to this deal and state its position publicly," Kenny said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, has said that this deal will be bad for farmers and bad for the environment.

“This deal supports the interests of heavy manufacturing of cars and chemicals at the expense of family farms and the environment.

“The deal puts Irish and other European farmers in direct competition with giant South American farms who do not have to comply with the same welfare or environmental standards. It will allow access for South American produce to the European market, which will have a particular impact on beef and poultry prices," she added.

The Irish Government, she argued, must join the blocking minority at the European Council and vote against the deal in the European Parliament to protect Irish farming.