Briefly, on that last point on Horizon Europe and PEACEPLUS, the discussion is currently under way on the multi-annual financial framework. That is discussed at my council every month and they are two of our most important objectives, along with of course, the Common Agricultural Policy. It is our number one objective to get a fully funded and separate Common Agricultural Policy. The European leaders had a brief discussion on the multi-annual financial framework and they will ultimately decide the budget. In the me…

Sorry, farmers------

-----and the multinational companies in Little Island in Deputy O'Flynn's constituency. However, I have said all along, and the Government has said this consistently, that there is an issue with beef. Let us be clear what the issue is not, however. The issue is not standards within the European Union because the agreement specifically makes provision, and this continues no matter what way this goes at the end of the day, and it includes of beef that is already coming into the European market and that 99,000 tonnes …

No, it is coming directly into the European Union. With tariffs-----

It is coming in directly at the moment.

To be absolutely clear, the rule is that animal, plant and food product placed on the European market has to comply with the EU sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.

This is non-negotiable and applies regardless of the Mercosur trade agreement. In fact, they are specifically provided for in the Mercosur trade agreement.

Countries and establishments that produce food which comes into the EU market have to comply with EU law. There is an issue. There is no question-----

-----that there is an issue relating to beef farmers in the Mercosur agreement and I have said that all along. There is no question, particularly in relation to price, because that 99,000 tonnes already coming into the European Union will have a lower tariff. That is not in doubt. The Deputies are telling me we should be telling the European MEPs what to do, but what people like Barry Cowen have done, without being told to do it, is to work on safeguards for farmers, whether this comes into effect or not. He has be…

This will open new opportunities for them and for machinery as well. All I am saying is-----

We are not sacrificing anybody-----

The Government has voted against it.

I will move on to fishing.

The fishing was not a good story. That was an outcome not of the European Council the Taoiseach attended but of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council and it will result in severely reduced fishing opportunities for Ireland this year.

I acknowledge that this has had a devastating impact on rural communities. The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, worked very hard in relation to it, talking to other countries. He went around and visited them and lobbied them-----

-----and negotiated at the table, but those member states-----

-----and the member states were mentioned here, choose to block the invocation of the Hague preferences for this year. This is a protection measure for Ireland. A number of options have been outlined here in the Dáil. No doubt any option will be considered by the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, but what he is specifically doing is establishing a working group under Food Vision 2030 to develop a framework of support for the sector to address the challenges.

I have not answered most of them.

That is fine.

In relation to Sudan, Sudan has been discussed at the European Council on many occasions, including comprehensive conclusions agreed at the October Council which the European Union is now following up on. Since then, it has been discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council. It is an issue that the Taoiseach raises on a regular basis. We have been accused of double standards in relation to Venezuela but everybody now agrees that Maduro was illegitimately elected. Why then, under Mary Lou McDonald's leadership, were two …