Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Mercosur impact report will be published, given that it was expected to be published in spring 2021. [20830/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will recall that this particular Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment consists of two important and complementary components, namely a comprehensive analysis of the potential economic benefits as well as a robust sustainability impact assessment including social, human rights and environmental impacts that the trade Agreement could have in Ireland and the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. As such, it is a considerable undertaking, which, unfortunately, has necessitated us running beyond the Q1 2021 deadline by which we had hoped to have the finalised report considered by Government and published.

As previously reported to the House, the detailed research and stakeholder consultations are concluded, and I am now informed that drafting of the actual Report itself is well advanced such that the Report is expected to be received by my Department in the coming weeks. It will be published as soon as possible after consideration by Government.