Leo: nobody will go hungry if it’s No Deal
NOBODY will go hungry in the event of a no-deal Brexit, Leo Varadkar has said – unless they’re relying on TV dinners.
Following a Cabinet meeting yesterday where the Government stepped up its preparations for a hard Brexit, the Taoiseach sought to allay fears around food shortages, insisting Ireland produces enough to feed itself.
‘On food, it’s not something we’re hugely concerned about. Bear in mind we’re a net food exporter. We produce a lot of food in the country.
‘In the unlikely event of a nodeal, hard Brexit, if there is major disruption to trade flows, the kinds of foods that may be harder to get are pre-packaged foods – you know those kind of food tray things you buy in Marks & Spencer, those type of products. But nobody’s going to go hungry,’ he told a press conference yesterday.
This spring the Dáil will focus on passing 45 pieces of legislation needed to implement Ireland’s no-deal contingency plans focusing on the areas of expanding ports and airports, food and medicine shortages – but Mr Varadkar is keen to play down concerns.
The Taoiseach said the strong presence of the pharmaceutical industry would also buffer us against medicine shortages, but admitted that stockpiling will be necessary, and that a large proportion of generic drugs come here from the UK.
Work is ongoing at the Department of Health to ensure there are sufficient supplies, he said.
‘A huge number of the medicines that we use in Ireland are actually manufactured in Ireland and don’t come from the UK. So that’s obviously a real positive for us. Nine of the ten biggest pharmaceutical companies are here in Ireland manufacturing products. Wholesalers already maintain stockpiles of medicines and we want to make sure those stockpiles are adequate.’
He went on: ‘What does come from the UK in quite significant numbers are generics. We’re going to need to make sure that they are available too.’
Ireland’s increased focus on a no-deal scenario comes on the back of continuing political chaos in London – where the absence of a majority support for the withdrawal agreement has brought a cliff-edge Brexit perilously close.
Mr Varadkar will be boosted by the continued support of Ireland’s European partners, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel affirming that support in a phone call with the Taoiseach yesterday.
During a 40-minute call, held at the Chancellor’s request, they ‘brainstormed’ ways to help Theresa May pass her Brexit deal in the Commons. Both leaders agreed that the deal would not be reopened for negotiation. ‘We’re happy to offer reassurances and guarantees to the UK, but not reassurances and guarantees that contradict or change what was agreed back in November,’ Mr Varadkar said, stating again that any deal will have to contain the backstop for avoiding a hard border.
Mr Varadkar said that he had ‘given up speculating’ on the potential outcome of Brexit.
He said: ‘The threat of a no-deal isn’t one that Ireland is making, isn’t one that the European Union is making.
‘The threat of no deal can be taken off the table at any time by the UK parliament, either by ratifying the agreement that the 28 governments have made or by seeking the extension to Article 50 to allow more time for us to negotiate what needs to be negotiated.’
‘We’re a net exporter of food’