The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Mercosur Trade Deal

Intended results To insist that, following the move by the EU Commission to push ahead with the proposal, the Irish Government must stand up against Mercosur. That a deal that refuses to recognise the gap in standards between the EU and Brazil must not be approved. That it's contradictory to insist on the highest standards for European producers only to allow Mercosur countries access without reaching the same standards. The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and Meat Industry Ireland (MII) are calling on the Government to reject the proposed EU-Mercosur Trade Deal and to build the necessary alliances with like-minded member states to prevent its ratification given the economic impact this deal will have primarily on Irish farmers while also negatively impacting EU farmers. To highlight that this deal if allowed proceed will decimate the already vulnerable suckler and beef sector and poultry sector in Ireland leading to further land abandonment, reduced economic activity throughout the towns and villages of the country with job losses inevitable all through the supply and services chain as a result. To emphasise that Government must honour their commitment in the Programme for Government to ‘“work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal”. That, while IFA and MII are supportive of trade and recognise the importance of trade to Ireland's economy, it must be fair and balanced. The Mercosur deal is not. It is disproportionate and lacks effective safeguards for farmers, consumers, food safety and the environment as outlined in detail below. To point out the cumulative impact of already ratified trade deals between the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, as well as a potential future deal between the EU and Australia with very significant meat quotas will also further threaten the market position of Irish meat products. The lack of interrogation on the cumulative impact of these trade deals on Irish produce and the rural economy is glaring and requires immediate attention before a vote on this deal in the European Council and European Parliament can take place later this year. The volume of chicken on offer in this deal is the equivalent of our entire Irish production of chicken breasts in year one alone – 30,000t and by year 5, 6 times that of our Irish production of fillet. The total amount is likely to bring in circa 1.2bn chicken fillets into the EU by year 5. Beef prices in Brazil due to the lower production standards are approx. 50% of current Irish beef prices and in 2024 beef prices in Mercosur countries ranged from 71% to 74% of EU prices, this level of disparity in prices will severely undermine the EU market for Irish beef, a market which accounted for 47% of our beef exports in 2024. To make Government aware that Irish farmers have lost 250,000 suckler cows in the past 10 years due to low incomes, the sector does not have the capacity to absorb the impact of this increased access of cheap beef undermining our markets and lowering already marginal incomes. That the proposed safeguard clause is designed in a manner in which it will never be used. Equally, the proposed compensation fund is merely a budgetary proposal currently which is open to significant change during future MFF discussions. To stress that, regardless of any safeguard measures put in place, Irish farmers reject the deal in principle given the enormous disparity in production standards, animal welfare and environmental protections between Mercosur and Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs, Declan Hanrahan IFA Livestock Committee Chair, Tomas Bourke IFA Senior Policy Executive, James Walsh IFA Policy Executive, Sarah Hanley IFA Policy Executive

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (11-20)

Social Media (2-5)

Informal communication (21-30)

Submission (2-5)

Event / Reception (1)

Email (6-10)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Cathal Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Gillane Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)

Gareth Scahill Senator (Seanad)

Jack O'Donnell Special Advisor to the Tanaiste (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul O'Shea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Johnny Mythen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Martin Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Roderic O'Gorman TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Simon Harris Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sinead McPhilips Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Martin Heydon Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Diarmuid Lynch Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Brian Purcell Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)