Clare’s MEP is hopeful that work aimed at referring the legality of the Mercosur deal to the European Court will help slow it down.
It comes as Irish Members of European Parliament are returning to Brussels this week to discuss the agreement, which was approved by EU member states last week.
Irish MEPs are returning to Brussels this week to push for stricter food safety measures under the Mercosur trade deal.
They want to ensure products meet EU standards and do not contain illegal or harmful growth promoters.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to travel to South America this week to sign the trade deal, prompting fresh criticism that the agreement is being pushed ahead before a vote in the European Parliament.
Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara, who was among thousands of Irish farmers and supporters who gathered in Athlone over the weekend to protest against the agreement says farmers’ anger is well-founded.
The Scariff-based farmer says he’ll will be working with like-minded MEPs in an effort to pass a resolution to refer the legality of the Mercosur Deal to the European court, which he says could slow it down.
But he admits that depending on the timing of the vote, anything could happen.
Ireland was one of five countries to oppose the deal in its current form, but the Government’s come under criticism from some quarters over uncertainty surrounding its stance on the issue in the run up to the vote.
Fianna Fáil Minister Timmy Dooley says when the Programme for Government was agreed, the coalition was clear it wouldn’t support the agreement in it’s current form and work has been ongoing behind closed doors at European level to modify it.
The Tulla-based Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine believes that while the vast majority of Irish representatives will be working to build resistance, it’s hard to see it being defeated as it currently stands.
He insists the Government won’t be to blame though, if the trade deal goes ahead.
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