The Government failed to demonstrate “coherence or capability” in handling the Mercosur arrangement, according to the former leader of the Green Party, reports Breaking News.
Eamon Ryan, who headed the party during much of its participation in the last government, noted that the procedures typically followed by the previous coalition did not appear to have been observed, reports Breaking News.
The ex-environment minister described the Government’s handling of communications regarding Mercosur as “very badly managed”.
This comes at a time of unease within the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil-Independent coalition, driven by confusion surrounding the Government’s position on the matter.
On Friday, EU ambassadors gave their approval to a trade agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – although it still requires endorsement from the European Parliament.
The Irish Government opposed the deal in its present form, with key Cabinet members stressing that negotiations remain incomplete.
The pact is a trade agreement between the EU and the four Mercosur nations – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Irish beef producers fear the arrangement could jeopardise their European exports because of cheaper Brazilian beef entering the market.
On Saturday, thousands of farmers assembled at the Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone to demonstrate against the European Council’s decision and urge MEPs to reject the deal.
Although Mr Ryan indicated he personally would have supported the Mercosur agreement, the Green Party maintains an official stance against it.
When asked to compare the functioning of the current coalition with his experience alongside Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and former Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, he told RTÉ radio on Sunday that the dynamics at the top of Government seem markedly different.
Mr Ryan said: “This was very badly managed internally. The way it works if you’re going to change your position and go against something in your own Programme for Government, you would first of all address that at a party leaders’ (meeting), reports Breaking News.
“It’s different to this Government because the independents – it doesn’t seem to me – have quite the same role that we had in the previous government. But I can’t imagine in this instance that the Taoiseach hadn’t agreed with the Tánaiste the broad approach he wanted to take in advance of him going to China,” reports Breaking News.
Asked whether he thought the vote against the deal would have surprised independents like the Healy-Raes, Mr Ryan replied: “It may have come as a surprise to the Healy-Raes because I don’t think they are as integrated the same way we would have been. But I can’t imagine in Fine Gael that that position would have been taken without it being cleared. Maybe not with every (Fine Gael member). What you do is you agree first at leaders’ level, then you go to Cabinet subcommittee, then you go to Cabinet,” reports Breaking News.
He observed that the decision did not seem to have progressed beyond the leaders’ level.
Mr Ryan stated the matter would not cause “fatal damage” to Ireland’s standing in Europe, but he added: “It’s about coherence and capability politically – and that was not shown this week, or indeed in the weeks up to it,” reports Breaking News.
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