James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. There was a lot of food for thought - pardon the pun. I am acutely aware of some of the issues the delegates have raised, particularly in respect of food producers. Even some of the bigger ones, with perhaps 300 people working for them, have a major fear of cheap imported products. North County Dublin has approximately 35 to 40 farmers or horticulturists who produce approximately 65% of the vegetables in the country. They are always at loggerheads with the retailers. They fear a time when the 40-footers will start coming in with the cheap produce and put them out of business. In five years, when the 40-footers stop coming, perhaps, the skill set will be lost. That is a real concern. Some suggestions have been made on what the Government might look to. Clearly, there is a great deal of work to be done in trying to achieve what has been described and keep within state-aid rules. Obviously, the Taoiseach has already made it very clear that he has presented Ireland's case as a very special one, particularly in light of the Border, the peace process and our exports to and relationship with the United Kingdom.

I have a question for Ms Callan. What percentage of the small firms represented by the Small Firms Association that have fewer than 50 employees have a proportion of exports to the United Kingdom that is greater than 25% or 50%?

It seems that some companies are very exposed while others are not.

Mr. McKeever asked chartered accountants to become more knowledgeable about exchange rates and what they mean. How does he suggest we go about informing the small operators about their exposure, of which they seem to be unaware even by the witnesses' own admission, without causing wholesale panic? This is a question for everybody.