Avoiding a ‘cliff edge’ scenario

for many of its goods and Northern Ireland similarly exports goods through the Republic.

The indication by the UK that they may seek a system of ‘regulatory equivalence’ with the EU in the context of sanitary and phytosanitary standards is also welcome. However, these issues are complex and technical and a great deal of detailed discussion is required to progress any potential solutions.

There are significant political and economic issues at play here. The EU has agreed that the parameters of the post-Brexit relationship can only be discussed when sufficient progress has been made on the Article 50 discussions on the UK exit.

These discussions, which relate to the UK financial set- tlement, the free movement of EU citizens and border issues, are under way.

From an agri-food perspective, it is critically important that discussion on the exit issues moves forward as quickly as possible, so that we can begin the extremely difficult and technical discussions on how a transition period and a post-Brexit relationship might work.

I do not underestimate the challenge, but the sooner we can get to that point, the better as food businesses grapple with the challenge of currency fluctuation while negotiations continue to evolve.

Ireland has made its objectives clear from the outset — the retention of a trading relationship as close as possible to the current one. We have also made it clear that the UK exit must not result in the restoration of an economic border on the island of Ireland. The special position of Ireland has been explicitly recognised in the EU negotiating guidelines.

We will be negotiating as part of an EU 27 which provides access to a single market of 450 million people, and free-trade agreements with almost 50 third countries.

We have a long road ahead but my focus is very firmly on working with the Taoiseach, Minister Coveney and other Government colleagues to achieve the best possible outcome for the food industry, from farm to fork.

I HOPE THAT KEY PLAYERS IN THE UK AGRI-FOOD SECTOR, WITH WHOM I HAVE HAD DETAILED DISCUSSIONS, WILL HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD BY THE UK GOVERNMENT