Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has denied that the Government’s decision to reject the Mercosur trade deal is tokenism or grandstanding, as it's likely to pass anyway.
EU member states are to vote on the trade deal tomorrow; this deal would increase trade opportunities between Europe and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Ireland won’t be supporting the Mercosur deal.
Michael Healy-Rae says the opposition to the trade deal with the South American bloc was in the Programme for Government.
The Kerry TD says it’s important to keep to this commitment:
Meanwhile, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, who supports the Government, says the announcement that it won’t be supporting Mercosur is too little too late.
The Independent Kerry TD says the issues around the Mercosur trade deal are of paramount importance.
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae says it’s only a token gesture voting against the trade deal now:
