The majority of Irish MEPs have put it on record that they will vote against the EU-Mercosur trade deal when it comes before the European Parliament.

Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion said she will be voting against the Mercosur agreement.

“The agreement is not a good deal for Irish farmers, the environment, or public health. The proposed safeguard measures are too little too late and will not be enough to protect farmers against unfair competition from Mercosur countries,” she said.

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Her party colleague Lynn Boylan will also vote against the deal, stating that the EU has “sacrificed our climate, public health and Irish farmers for a deal to sell big cars to South America”.

Independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan will be voting against the deal. He told the European Parliament’s agriculture committee this week that the safeguard clause for the deal was “nothing more than political perfume for a skunk of an agreement”.

“You can spray the perfume all you want, but the skunk will still smell.”

Fianna Fáil

Ireland south MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú said she will “reluctantly vote against the Mercosur trade deal”.

“The EU–Mercosur agreement offers real opportunities: deeper economic ties with South America, expanded export markets, and reduced tariffs for key Irish sectors like machinery and pharmaceuticals. However, I cannot support the deal in its current form. It presents a direct and serious threat to Irish farmers, particularly our beef sector.”

Her party colleague Billy Kelleher said while safeguards have supposedly been put in place, they ultimately rely on the national competent authorities in Mercosur countries to implement them and play by our rules.

Trust

“Quite frankly, I don’t have enough trust in these authorities. When the vote comes before the European Parliament later this month, I will vote for any and all safeguarding measures, but will ultimately have to vote against the actual trade agreement.”

Midlands north west MEP Barry Cowen said if a vote on the Mercosur trade deal were held tomorrow he would vote against it.

Independent Ireland MEP Ciarán Mullooly said he will vote against the Mercosur deal “as it appears the proposed safeguards we have proposed have been ignored up to this stage”.

Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara told the Irish Farmers Journal that he will also be voting against the deal.

Fine Gael MEPs split

While there is cross-party support against the deal, some Fine Gael MEPs remain undecided on the deal.

Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry said that “without significant changes to the safeguards and the absence of a level playing field with Mercosur beef when it comes to hormones and antibiotic use” that she will not be able to support the final trade agreement.

“Last week, I tabled amendments to the safeguard regulation to insist that all agri-food imports must fully comply with EU environmental and food safety rules and increase the frequency of the monitoring of beef imports from Mercosur countries,” she said.

Seán Kelly refused to say what way he would vote on the deal.

He said: “I will decide on my vote when it comes before parliament, and I have considered all provisions and evidence fully.”

Their colleague Maria Walsh said that she intends to vote against the EU-Mercosur agreement when it comes before the parliament.

“I have voiced my concerns repeatedly and unless substantial changes are made to the final text, I cannot support a deal that risks inflicting significant damage on Ireland’s beef sector.”

Pro-deal

Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews was the only MEP to state that he will vote in favour of the deal.

“With the safeguards in place for Irish farmers, I will be supporting the agreement.

“The Irish economy is based on open trade and this huge new market could be a boost for Irish exporters. This is a time when we clearly need to diversify our trade relations,” he said.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Regina Doherty did not respond to queries on their voting preference on the deal.