Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentation. We are all aware of the issues with Brexit and the difficulties it poses particularly for our agrifood and fisheries sectors. We need to get into some of the detail of that. I am concerned about the issue of veterinary standards, particularly between the North and the South. There is considerable movement of live animals and product across the Border. What is our level of readiness in the context of two different standards applying and where will that end, so to speak? How can we protect the very high-quality standards we have reached in order to be able to market our product within the EU?

One of the main objectives the UK is seeking if it leaves the EU is to be able to strike new trade deals around the world and import product from wherever. How can we know there will not be leakage of that back in here? That is one of the major concerns. It relates to the Deputy Cahill's point regarding standards. Britain has a population of more than 60 million and it has to get food from somewhere. Currently, we are providing much of that food, particularly in certain categories, especially beef and dairy products. It would probably take time for the UK to be able replace our products. Has any assessment been carried out in respect of the timescale we face in that scenario?

Despite some key Brexiteers thinking they can strike a trade deal and have the ship arriving the following week with the product, in the real world it does not happen like that. I would be interested to know because in any of these matters, if one as an idea of the timescale, at least one has an idea of how prepared we can be for it.

From speaking to hauliers, I am conscious that much of the product that moves we export to Britain but also when we are exporting to the Continent, much of it goes through Britain. Will an arrangement be made? For instance, if a consignment of foodstuff goes into a container, arrives in Britain, goes across Britain and on to the Continent, will there be some kind of free-pass mechanism for hauliers to be able to do that without checks in the knowledge that their product is not stopping in or being exported to Britain?

The big issue that faces the fishing sector is, as the officials have outlined, around access to waters. What happens to British waters will mean that we will face another impact, that is, that all the Dutch, Belgian and Spanish boats that all fish in what will become UK waters will have to go somewhere else. Clearly, the place where they will go, if they are to stay in the Atlantic, is into waters that would have been traditionally, prior to us becoming part of the Common Market, Irish territorial waters. Will that put more pressure on us? In that context, will a renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy be required? Will we need to look at that to see where we stand in respect of quota and everything else? It will have a significant impact. As the officials will be aware, many sectors, particularly the small fishing boats and the inland fisheries, are finding it difficult enough to survive, and if there is pressure put on their quota again, it would have a devastating effect on that industry.