Ireland South MEPCynthia Ní Mhurchú has today welcomed the decision by the European Parliament to refer the Mercosur trade agreement to the European Courts, describing it as a significant step forward for Irish farmers and communities in rural Ireland.
Speaking following the vote, Ní Mhurchú said the move sends a strong signal that the concerns of farmers are being taken seriously at European level.
“I, along with my colleagues in the European Parliament, have voted to refer the Mercosur trade deal to the European Courts. This is a significant step for Irish farmers, and I stand firmly with them,” she said.
Ní Mhurchú has been a consistent critic of the Mercosur agreement, arguing that it risks undermining Ireland’s beef sector by allowing large volumes of cheap South American beef into the EU market.
“We can and must do a better deal – one that does not flood the European Union with cheap beef produced to standards that would not be acceptable here, including the use of antibiotics and hormones,” she said. “Irish farmers should not be asked to pay the price for trade-offs that prioritise other industries.”
She also criticised the broader political trade-offs underpinning the deal.
“We cannot sacrifice our beef industry to secure export advantages for Germany’s car industry. That is not a fair or balanced outcome for Ireland or for European agriculture. Now more than ever, we need food security.”
Ní Mhurchú highlighted her recent participation in protests alongside farmers outside the European Parliament in both Brussels and Strasbourg.
“I protested with farmers this week outside the European Parliament and stand in full solidarity with them. Today’s vote is a positive development and a good result for our farming community, but the fight to protect Irish agriculture is far from over.”
She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to defending Irish farmers and ensuring that any future trade agreements uphold high standards, fairness, and sustainability.
Ní Mhurchú described the deal as bad for EU consumers saying,
“Despite a European Commission–instigated ban on hormone-treated beef entering the EU from Brazil, it was confirmed in November 2025 that a recall of Brazilian beef had nevertheless been issued. This development makes a mockery of the European Commission’s testing and enforcement protocols and further deepens farmers’ distrust of the Mercosur deal. It has since been confirmed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that the recalled beef had entered the Irish supply chain.
