Ms Maree Gallagher:

There certainly is an opportunity for collaboration. It depends on the particular product line and how the tariff applies to it. We recently looked at a company manufacturing shortbread, using Irish butter, and importing flour and sugar. Currently the product is manufactured in the UK, and shipped globally and around Europe without issue. If we have tariffs post Brexit, there will be particular tariffs on each individual ingredient. Calculating and doing all that will be quite specific to particular products.

There will be room for such collaboration in a category which is uniform and involves similar businesses in a particular area which are potentially doing the same thing. However, there will also be a requirement for people with specific skills in particular areas. I agree that, where possible, such expertise should be shared. Some such support is being provided through local enterprise offices, Enterprise Ireland and various other organisations. There will have to be consideration given to the sharing of such expertise because there will be a shortage of skilled people to provide advice.