Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-10
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

When we came into government, there were three big issues in agriculture that the Government identified. The first was the extension of the nitrates derogation, the second was Mercosur and, third, albeit not in any order of priority, was the multi-annual financial framework, which as currently drafted is not sufficient. I think it is about 80% of the last CAP. There is a lot of negotiation on that. It looks like the multi-annual financial framework will fall to our Presidency for resolution and conclusion. The Commission has been extremely constructive with us. I had number of engagements with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. I have to record that she was particularly constructive on the nitrates derogation. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, did very significant work with his counterpart and with the environment Commissioner, as did the Minister for housing, James Browne, in the context of the habitats directive and having the various plans ready for the extension of the derogation.
We have engaged with the Commission on the Mercosur deal. The Commission has responded to the like-minded countries - France, Italy, Ireland and others - in respect of safeguards and stronger sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, standards. It has now issued a legal instrument to try to copper-fasten that. It is not the same deal as the previous one but we are still examining that with other like-minded countries.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:27+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-10