Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are looking at all of these scenarios. Bord Bia is deeply engaged with purchasers of Irish beef in the UK market. I have met the chief executives of Tesco and Sainsbury's and I have travelled to the UK to meet the Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsom. When I expressed to Ms Leadsom our concern about how we would be adversely affected if the UK were to conduct its own trade deals after Brexit, she instinctively made the point that UK farmers and consumers have raised the same issues with her. In the negotiated outcome, we would like the UK to be somewhat constrained in its capacity to do trade deals with third countries in the agrifood sector. At the very least, it needs to be ensured in any such deals that producers from third countries are held to the same standards and certification obligations as EU producers. We believe we could face any competition in such circumstances. All of these things are the subject of negotiation. Part of our strategy involves engaging in the UK to cement our relationships with purchasers there and to try to navigate this difficult situation. For historical, geographical and cultural reasons, it is entirely logical that the UK market is our most important market. No other market pays a higher premium for beef. It would be a foolish strategy to walk away from it. Part of our strategy involves resourcing Bord Bia to look for other markets for live exports and processed beef exports. It would be critical in the context of a trade war like that alluded to by the Deputy for us to have other export opportunities.