Ian Marshall (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate all those who made presentations. They have highlighted the complexity of the agrifood industry and the fact that it is an all-island industry. Following the conversations I have had about Brexit, I am concerned about "Brexit fatigue". If people think they are fatigued after three years then, by golly, they will be fatigued if the UK leaves. We may still be having these conversations in ten years. My first question is for Mr. Chestnutt, who may have been interested in Mr. Healy's comments. I was at a British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting earlier this week. One theme that came out of that meeting is that the Scottish and Welsh are not happy with the deal currently on the table. They feel that they will be disadvantaged and that it is an unattractive arrangement.

We have an all-island agrifood economy. Is there a mechanism that allows farm representative organisations to work together to represent agriculture or do they have fundamentally different positions that they cannot agree on? I acknowledge the issues related to pricing and trade deals. Those affect all organisations.

In the context of the Mercosur agreement - the provision relating to the 99,000 tonnes represents 1.2% of EU beef production - it will be like watching the fly on the wall when the Brexit bulldozers run us over. Are all farm organisations North and South working together to try to get a good outcome from that?

Clarity is the elephant in the room here. Nobody can get clarity in order to make plans or arrangements for their businesses. I look at other businesses and industries that have the potential to be affected by Brexit. I am aware that tensions exist between the organisations our guests represent and the processing sector. Is there a dialogue taking place in order to work out how they can take the risk out of supply chains and ensure that any disruption will be minimised? Is the disconnected supply chain leaving them in a position where they cannot have those conversations?