Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has slammed the Taoiseach for his comments about the need to account for the nitrates derogation when it comes to Irelands position on Mercosur.
The Dublin MEP said:
“The government have refused to take a clear position on the Mercosur deal for over a year now.
“In fact, this time last year, I challenged them for speaking out of both sides of their mouth over their ‘opposition’ to the Mercosur deal.
“In Brussels today, the Taoiseach said that decisions around the nitrates delegation would impact how the government votes on Mercosur – another broken promise from the election last year where they said that they would oppose this deal.
“These comments make it clear that the Taoiseach only ever used opposition to Mercosur as a bargaining chip – and that he clearly has no real interest in protecting the environment, Irish farmers, or public health.
“Furthermore, his remarks about improving the deal are a smoke screen – the deal is done. At this point it is’s just a simple yes, or no to any support for the deal.
“Kathleen Funchion and I have called out this rotten trade deal at every opportunity since we were elected, urging the government to join like-minded countries and form a blocking minority against this deal.
“These comments are further proof that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot be trusted to do the right thing, and to vote against Mercosur.
“If they cannot find the spine to stand up against this rotten trade deal, then they will be inflicting huge damage on our environment, the publics health and Irish farmers – all in the name of appeasing Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission.”
