Lack of coherence in Mercosur communication, Ryan says

The Government did not show “coherence or capability” around the Mercosur arrangement, the former leader of the Green Party has said.

Eamon Ryan, who led the party for much of its term within the previous government, said procedures followed by the previous coalition did not seem to be followed.

The former environment minister said the Government’s communication on Mercosur had been “very badly managed”.

It comes amid disquiet among members of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail-Independent coalition following uncertainty over the Government’s stance on the issue.

On Friday, EU ambassadors approved a trade deal with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – but it still needs to be backed by the European Parliament.

The Irish Government voted against the deal in its current form, with senior Cabinet figures insisting that negotiations are not finalised.

The agreement involves a trade deal between the EU and four Mercosur countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Irish beef farmers are concerned that the deal could threaten their exports to Europe due to the introduction of lower-cost Brazilian beef.

On Saturday, thousands of farmers gathered at the Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone to protest against the European Council’s decision and call on MEPs to vote against the deal.

While Mr Ryan said he would have voted in favour of the Mercosur deal, the Green Party’s official line is in opposition to the agreement.

Asked to assess the working of the current coalition compared with his time with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and ex-Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, he told RTE radio on Sunday the relationships at the head of Government appear to be very 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).

“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 Tanaiste the broad approach he wanted to take in advance of him going to China.”

Asked if he believed the decision to vote against the deal would have come as a surprise to independents such as the Healy-Raes, Mr Ryan said: “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.”

He said it did not appear that the decision went beyond the leaders’ meeting.

Mr Ryan said the issue will not do “fatal damage” to Ireland’s reputation in Europe, but added: “It’s about coherence and capability politically – and that was not shown this week, or indeed in the weeks up to it.”