The Programme for Government, published in January 2025, stated that the Government would work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.
On 9 January 2026, EU Member States voted on the EU-Mercosur Agreement. That vote was carried by a qualified majority. Ireland voted, clearly and unambiguously, against the approval of the Agreement.
Furthermore, I and other Government Ministers – including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Minister for European Affairs and Defence, among others – along with officials have engaged extensively at EU level to voice our concerns with the Agreement. That engagement was sustained over time and took place across multiple forums and in both formal and informal settings, with fellow EU Member States and with the European Commission.
We take note of the decision of the European Parliament to refer the EU-Mercosur Agreement to the European Court of Justice. The Government will continue to engage with the Commission and with other EU Member States in the time ahead to ensure the full implementation of the commitments obtained from the Commission to address our concerns with the Agreement, should the Agreement be implemented.
Recent developments in the international trading environment have highlighted the importance of market diversification, including by finalising a number of Free Trade Agreements. The EU’s network of Free Trade Agreements support more opportunity for exports and investment, help support jobs and growth at home, maintain strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, and support better environmental and human rights standards around the world.
Regarding the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in response to the findings of the Supreme Court the Government is moving ahead with changes to the Arbitration Act 2010, which will enable the ratification of CETA. The Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025, which is currently progressing through the Dáil, will provide a new procedure in Irish law for the enforcement of awards made by tribunals established under international agreements containing investment dispute resolution provisions to fully address concerns identified by the Supreme Court in the Costello judgments.
Once enacted, the Government intends to bring forward the ratification of CETA, in line with constitutional requirements and parliamentary processes.
It is important to note that the EU-Mercosur Agreement does not contain investment dispute resolution provisions and therefore the constitutional implications for Ireland arising from CETA do not apply in this case.
