Sinn Féin brought a motion to the Dáil on Tuesday night in relation to the Mercosur trade deal. In the motion it called for the Government to publicly reject the Mercosur agreement as it threatens the future of Irish agriculture and the Irish family farm.

Sinn Féin said the trade deal poses a huge threat to the environment, public health and human rights. It called on the Government to work with like-minded member states to form a blocking minority at council level.

In his response, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said the Government wouldn’t oppose the motion, in effect rejecting the Mercosur trade deal.

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Addressing the Dail, he said: “The Government will not oppose today’s motion.”

Speaking on the next steps, he said for a qualified majority vote, a blocking minority would be required to prevent adoption of the agreement.

“This requires at least four member states, representing over 35% of the EU population, voting against or abstaining on the proposal,” the minister said.

“It is fair to say that, right now, it is far from clear that a blocking minority exists.”