Mr. Cormac Healy:

In the short term, purely from the logistical point of view of ramping up and getting product to market, there would be a shortfall. It is also the case that the UK market is a fresh beef market and consumers are used to fresh product. It is processed here and it is over there with a just-in-time delivery service. It has perhaps got too slick in terms of how efficient it is, and that is why one can get shortages in the short term. As to whether they are eyeing the UK market as a major prize, the answer is “Yes”. Will they ramp up in the medium term to see the prize? Yes. Is it just South America? No, the US is looking at it very attentively, and Australia and New Zealand obviously have ambitions there. In time, they can do that. It goes back to the age-old discussion on whether they decide to target it. However, they will not be able to supply fresh mince into it, and that is clearly the case, given their geographic location. However, will they be able to supply more steaks into it than heretofore? If a no-deal is the outcome, on 1 January, given we currently have no tariffs, we will see a massive hike that affects the competitiveness of our product and they will gain. The tariffs they would be used to paying going into the EU are a bit above what the UK has mentioned at the moment.