Mullooly cautiously welcomes EU–India Deal: “Opportunities for Ireland - But every detail will be scrutinised”

Ciaran Mullooly MEP has cautiously welcomed the conclusion of the EU-India trade agreement, emphasising that the deal safeguards Ireland’s sensitive agricultural sectors while opening substantial new opportunities for Irish exporters.

Responding to the announcement, Mr Mullooly said the agreement stands in stark contrast to the Mercosur proposal, where Irish agriculture, particularly the beef sector, faced a direct and disproportionate threat.

“In this case, the EU has protected our sensitive areas in agriculture. That is the key reason I am prepared to support this agreement. It presents real economic opportunities for Ireland without creating immediate challenges for our farm families,” he said.

From an Irish perspective, the strongest gains are expected in the food and drink sectors. India is one of the world’s largest consumer markets, and the agreement will significantly reduce tariffs on Irish whiskey and gin, a long-awaited breakthrough for a sector that has endured considerable turbulence in recent months due to erratic US punitive tariffs on European and Irish spirits.

In the dairy sector, Ireland currently exports approximately €2.2 million worth of products annually, primarily infant formula. While tariff reductions in this area have yet to be finalised, continued access to the Indian market is assured. Even at higher tariff levels, Irish dairy products retain a strong foothold due to their global reputation for quality.

The agreement is also significant for Ireland’s life sciences and pharmaceutical sector. The European Commission has indicated that tariffs of up to 11% on pharmaceuticals will be mostly eliminated, alongside measures aimed at improving trade facilitation and reducing administrative friction.

For other agricultural products - including beef, pigmeat, poultry, and sheep meat, no challenges are anticipated. As with the EU-Canada agreement, India is unlikely to meet the stringent standards required for exporting such products into the European market, meaning no additional competitive pressure on Irish farmers.

Mr Mullooly MEP acknowledged that the agreement also includes provisions that may make it easier for Indian citizens to apply to work in the EU, including Ireland. He stressed the importance of close scrutiny as the final regulatory details emerge.

“It is essential that we carefully examine the finer print when this agreement comes before the European Parliament. If concerns arise regarding the operation of visa arrangements or potential impacts on the Irish labour market, there will be opportunities during the parliamentary process to table amendments. I will be consulting widely across the Irish economy to ensure we maximise the benefits of this agreement while identifying and mitigating any potential negative impacts.