Simon Harris says Fine Gael will not be on 'back foot' on Mercosur because of 'performative politics'

MEP Ciarán Mullooly walks with farmers protesting in Strasbourg. Mr Mullooly has said the trade deal will do "nothing of substance" for the EU economy and has urged farmers to continue to fight against it.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said that a vote to refer the Mercosur trade deal to the European Courts "should not have happened" as he took aim at Independent Ireland MEP Ciarán Mullooly at a private Fine Gael meeting.

Sources at Wednesday’s Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting told the Irish Examiner that Mr Harris informed TDs and senators that their party would not be “on the back foot” on Mercosur because Mr Mullooly was engaging in “performative politics”.