Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
457. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to evaluate the impact of the EU's trade performance on the Irish agricultural sector, noting that 39% of respondents in Ireland view trade as the area where the EU's performance is strongest according to the recent European Movement Ireland EU Poll 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36478/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is a small, open economy, and we depend for our prosperity upon good two-way trading relationships with our international partners, based on free, fair and open trade.
The agri-food sector in Ireland is particularly globally oriented, with approximately 90% of Irish beef, sheepmeat and dairy products exported annually to over 190 countries. The food, drink & primary production sectors account for nearly one-third of all export sales by Irish-owned companies, directly supporting 6.1% of total employment.
Our membership of the European Union makes us part of a growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, which provides significant opportunities for exports and investment, helps support jobs and growth at home, and maintains strict EU standards in relation to food safety and animal and plant health. Being able to avail of this network also makes it easier for the Irish agri-food sector to diversify and deepen relationships with new and emerging high-growth markets, as well as to strengthen our relationships on long-established markets.
For example, since the inception of EU Trade Agreements with Japan and Canada, our agri-food exports have increased significantly. Under the EU-Japan Agreement, tariff liberalisation has facilitated an increase in Irish agri-food exports from €107m in 2019 to €155m in 2025, and under CETA, the agreement has helped increase Irish agri-food exports to Canada from €107m in 2017 to €167m in 2025.
While supportive of trade liberalisation, the Government takes a balanced approach to EU Free Trade Agreements and recognise that these must have due regard to sensitive agri-food sectors. The Government has always been clear that EU trade agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors, and that our farmers’ livelihoods must not be undermined through, for example, weak or ineffective environmental standards in other countries.
