Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives from the ICSA and the ICMSA and thank them for their submissions which we received today. We are all aware of the fact that we are operating in a vacuum at the moment. Much of what we will discuss could turn out to be hypothetical. As was mentioned previously, it is not looking good. Even the best case scenario being flagged would give rise to issues in January or in the early months of whatever agreement is made. I have a few brief questions mainly seeking elaboration on points. Most of questions are for both organisations but I will focus initially on the ICSA. I have been trying to find positives in these deliberations. I would like to hear the witnesses' opinions on the possibilities for an increased or an improved sheep market depending on the outcome of the negotiations. We are all familiar with the quantity of Welsh sheep going to France. If that was not as easy a flight or journey for the UK after the negotiations are concluded, would there be an opening there for our sector? Have the witnesses' organisations any strategies among their members with an eye to that market or improved markets? Rather than concentrating on the negatives, we need to look for any positives that may be available and we certainly need to be in a position to take advantage of those if they arise. I would like to hear the ICSA's position on the possibility of an improvement for the sheep sector as we go forward.

The two organisations' submissions are very much about increased markets and new markets and putting the ball back in the political court and Bord Bia’s court. What interaction have they had with their membership? Have they any strategies for diversification, changing farming methods or how their memberships can deal with possible outlooks? Everybody here will be fighting for us to get as much as of the €5 billion as is possible and for it to be spread out as best as it can be and to the most appropriate areas of need as possible. What work have the organisations done with their membership or how are their members reacting to how they can, along with the aid, possibly overcome some of the hurdles that may appear?

The increased ferry capacity is to be welcomed but we could do with much more of it. Has the ICMSA done any research taking account of the increased ferry capacity with regard to lairage for live calf exports? Will lairage still be an issue or will the increased ferry capacity open up the lairage that will be available for use?

With respect to both organisations, but particularly the ICSA. I want to return to an issue highlighted by the Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society in its submission to the committee last week. It relates to existing free trade agreements in situbetween the EU and varying counties. It highlighted the fact that irrespective of the Northern Ireland protocol Northern Ireland milk, in the small print in some of those agreements, could still be seen as a third country product and that could be a potential major issue for countries to which we currently export under free trade agreements. Because of the small print in those agreements, those countries may not be able to recognise Northern Ireland milk other than as a third country product, irrespective of the Northern Ireland protocol. Has the ICMSA encountered that issue or has any work been done it, or what strategy would it have to overcome that if it were to become an issue?