The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 16 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Mercosur Trade Deal

Intended results To seek support in the EU Parliament for the motion to refer the Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice(ECJ) to interrogate its compatibility with various aspects of the European Treaties. To highlight that Irish farmers operate to world class animal health, welfare, and environment standards which are not remotely mirrored in Mercosur countries. To highlight that, despite a European Commission instigated ban on hormone treated beef entering the EU from Brazil, there was confirmation in November 2025 that a recall of Brazilian beef had been issued. This makes a mockery of the European Commission's testing protocols and further compounds farmers' distrust in this deal. It has since been confirmed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that this recall included the Irish supply chain. To oppose linking the Mercosur Trade deal to CAP funding. To highlight that this deal is bad for Irish farmers and very damaging for public health, based on the findings of the IFA/Farmers Journal investigation two months ago and the recent Brazilian beef recall due to the presence of hormones. The Government cannot countenance any position that would offer any sign of support for this deal. To highlight that opposition to the Mercosur deal was the only credible position the Government could adopt. Farmers would have felt let down by any other approach. To emphasise that the decision by the EU Commission to allow the Mercosur deal to come into effect provisionally today, 1st May 2026, pending a decision by the European Parliament, does not take away from the issues that exist for farmers here. To continue to oppose the deal because of the failure of beef and poultry imports from the Mercosur region to meet the very rigorous standards that apply to European producers.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs, Jason Fleming IFA Kerry Chair, Conor O'Leary Munster Regional Chair, Noel Banville IFA European Policy Executive, Donagh O' Sullivan IFA Kerry Regional 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.

Letter (2-5)

Email (11-20)

Social Media (11-20)

Meeting (2-5)

Event / Reception (2-5)

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)

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

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Donna McGettigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Máirín McGrath Councillor (Tipperary County Council)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

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

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Fleming TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Deirdre Gillane Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)

Diarmuid Lynch Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Sinead McPhillips Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)