AN ALL OUT row broke out between Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore and Independent TD Danny Healy Rae during a Dáil debate on the Mercosur deal this evening.

The controversial Mercosur trade deal has faced stiff opposition from farmers over agricultural concerns and the gallery was full of people from rural Ireland concerned about the new deal.

During the debate, Whitmore asked where Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae was.

“Where is he tonight? He is not here for this debate. Where is his support for rural communities when it comes to Mercosur?  Is he just going to roll over and accept it because Europe says so?” she said. 

Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae stood up, stating: “You were looking for me.  Here I am.” Whitmore said she was referring to his brother, the junior minister. 

Both TD’s were on their feet shouting at each other after Healy Rae repeatedly interrupted Whitmore while she criticised the environmental safeguards in the deal.

“Sit down and be quiet”, Whitmore said after appealing with Leas-Ceann Comhairle John McGuinness to stop Healy Rae’s unclear interruptions.

The Leas-Ceann Comhairle repeatedly rang the bell and instructed Healy Rae to stop talking.

“Stay in your seat and stay quiet. It is not your time,” McGuinness said as Healy Rae continued to shout at her.

“Leas-Ceann Comhairle this is unacceptable. He is completely interrupting this debate. He does not know when it is his time to speak and it is not your time to speak,” she said.

“Sit down Deputy or you’ll leave the chamber, one or the other,” McGuinness said to Healy Rae.

“I will not be protecting the foxes either,” added Healy-Rae

Healy Rae eventually stormed out of the Dáil chamber as the two TD’s continued to trade digs.

Sinn Féin brought a private members motion on the deal to the Dáil today with Martin Kenny TD calling on the government to stand up for Irish farmers and oppose the Mercosur Trade Agreement.

Earlier this year the European Commission gave the final go ahead to the deal, which changes trade restrictions between Europe and the Mercosur bloc – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The pact will see Mercosur countries progressively remove import duties on 91% of EU goods including cars, chemicals, wine and chocolate. These goods currently face tariffs of up to 35%.

In return, agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours would be able to sell meat, sugar, honey, soybeans and other products to Europe with fewer restrictions.

However, this has raised fears that a flow of cheaper farming goods would undercut European producers. 

Ireland is one of the few EU countries not to support the deal, along with France, whose president Emmanuel Macron has led the opposition. 

With additional reporting from Christina Finn