Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Minister's opening statement. I listened to it in my room due to the Covid regulations. The whole issue of Brexit and where we will go and how we will move forward in the next few months is important. How will this affect the agricultural community, in particular? I mention the origin of Irish products and how Irish products could be affected by any disruption of trade. Some 40% of the North's milk comes South to be processed. How will that be looked at in the long term regarding the Brexit negotiations? It is a significant issue for an industry that is worth €19 billion to the economy. That would be the all-Ireland milk processing potential we have. It is one of the major drivers in the economy. How will we work with the companies involved in cross-Border activity regarding the processing of milk products? How can that be looked at going forward and how will that be affected?

Can the Minister update us on how the ports have handled themselves over the last six months, including on tariffs and the implications of and the work that is required to get through the port network? A significant amount of product now goes directly to the Continent, which is a step forward, but there is still a major proportion using the land bridge through the UK. Where is that process at the moment? What are the failings and positives regarding how we could appropriately manage those issues?

The last issue has to do with cross-Border healthcare and how it could be, or is, affected by Brexit. There is an issue regarding the cross-Border directive that allows for patients to go to a European Union country and this has been slightly changed regarding Northern Ireland and how that fits in. There was a temporary situation put in place last year for it. Can the Minister update us on where that issue will go? It is a significant issue for many people, particularly in the northern half of Ireland but even in my own constituency as well, who would avail of the scheme. How will that scheme work its way through the system so we can have an appropriate scheme where people can get cross-Border healthcare?