Mr. William Lavelle:

I have responsibility for the Irish Whiskey Association in the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, ABFI. We represent 35 companies in the North and the South. Obviously, we have historic distilleries across country such as Midleton and Kilbeggan in this jurisdiction and Bushmills in the North. We also have a number of smaller distilleries coming on stream in Northern Ireland. A different approach will have to be taken in the North and the South in representing the interests of these companies. At present, all Irish whiskey producers are in the European Union. They all benefit equally from access to EU free trade agreements which have been significant in opening up new market opportunities around the world. If there is no deal, possibly in a later post-transition stage, producers in Northern Ireland may not have access to the same free trade options. We will have a dual trade policy function in engaging on behalf of our members in this jurisdiction through the European Commission, while engaging with the Department for International Trade in London on Northern Ireland trade. One of the biggest challenges Brexit presents for our members in Northern Ireland is the loss of access to EU free trade agreements. They were significant in opening up exports and turning the Northern Irish economy around from being a closed regional economy to an open and globalised one. That is one of the biggest threats we face.

As a North-South body, we will have to take up that dual function to represent members in Brussels and London on trade policy. That is one of the most significant implications we face.