Independent Ireland intensify pressure on EU-Mercosur deal
Independent Ireland representatives Ciaran Mullooly and Michael Fitzmaurice have unveiled a significantly strengthened, action-focused strategy to defeat the proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement, following a live social-media briefing from Leinster House viewed by thousands across the country.
During the briefing, Mr Mullooly confirmed major developments at European level, including fresh political pressure in Strasbourg.
“I’ve come directly from the European Parliament and there’s been confirmation in the last hour that we will have another vote of no confidence in the von der Leyen Commission next week in Strasbourg.
"This will be the fourth motion of no confidence in von der Leyen or her Commission since I joined the European Parliament. That issue will probably be debated on Monday, and it’s expected a vote will take place on Thursday next week," Mullooly said.
He also outlined a key legal development.
“We need a legal review of the trade deal. I was one of over 120 MEPs who signed a motion and we expect now, with fair play, that there will be a move next week and a vote to refer the entire trade deal to the courts," he added.
Setting out the parliamentary numbers, Mullooly said the route to defeating Mercosur is achievable.
“There are 720 MEPs in the European Parliament. We know now we need a simple majority, 361 will be enough to win it," the MEP stated.
He also confirmed his participation in European farmer protests, while a co-ordinated European public-information campaign will also be launched.
“Our team will be speaking on local radio in Italy, France and Germany, speaking candidly about the threat to public health and explaining why we have a concern about the safety of food coming in from the Mercosur countries, with medical advice from medical professionals, in the native language of those countries," he said.
Speaking from Leinster House, Fitzmaurice said tracing food purchased by the State is now a priority.
“We’ve written to the different departments, because bear in mind the amount of food that’s bought by the State for the HSE and all the different bodies. We need to know where that food is coming from.
“There’s two parts to this. Food health, 128 kilos has come into the country of hormonal beef. Would you like to have eaten that if you hadn’t known? And the answer is no. You cannot trust this system," the TD said.
Concluding the briefing, Mullooly confirmed that he had formally written to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, calling on them to honour their stated opposition to Mercosur under the Programme for Government and to engage directly with MEPs in Strasbourg next week.
Mullooly stressed that all 720 MEPs will be present and accessible.
“Next week in Strasbourg, all 720 MEPs will be in the House. They will be there from Monday to Thursday and available to speak one-to-one and in their groups.
“Just because ‘no’ was said last week, that’s not the end of it for Micheál Martin and Simon Harris. That is not the end of the situation at all," he added.
Mullooly again urged supporters to maintain peaceful and lawful engagement.
“There won’t be a public protest this weekend. But there will be an invitation for you tomorrow to go and visit the constituency office of your local TD or your Senator.
“People power has driven this from the start. Action speaks louder than words, and I will be watching very carefully to see what happens next week," Mullooly concluded.