‘No upside to Brexit for Irish agri-food sector’
There is nothing positive about Brexit for the agri-food sector Agriculture Minister Michael Creed told a Macra na Feirme Brexit forum in Macroom.
The minister said there is an over reliance on the United Kingdom market for our exports and Ireland must now explore new and emerging markets, such as South East Asia .“Contingency planning for Brexit is challenging, not least because we don’t control the timing,” he said.
Joe Burke from Bord Bia told the very well attended forum that “[cattle] exports to Northern Ireland and Britain are down almost 50 per cent. This is directly impacted by the euro/ sterling exchange rate.” Until there is more certainty around what will happen this will continue affecting the Irish export trade.
Alan Jagoe, President of CEJA, pointed out that nothing can happen until the UK triggers Article 50 as they must invoke this article to begin the process of leaving the EU.
Speaking at the meeting Macra na Feirme National President Seán Finan said: “Brexit presents the biggest challenge that our generation of young farmers and the industry will ever face. Young farmers are worried about the impact it will have on their businesses in the short term because of Sterling fluctuations and in the medium to long term due to our dependance on the UK export market for our main commodity products and the uncertainty around the trade arrangement that will exist after Britain leaves the EU.
“I am calling for the minimisation of any barriers to trade and continuation of the free movement of agricultural produces between Ireland and the UK after Brexit,” Mr Finan said.
“I welcome the establishment of the consultative committee on Brexit by Minister Creed and also his commitment to fight strongly to represent the interest of young farmers and Irish agriculture in any future negotiations,” Mr Finan added.