Mr. Bobby Roche:

I thank the committee for giving the IGFA the opportunity to attend the meeting. The industry considers all aspects of Brexit as a whole. We work closely with and are an important part of the link in the chain of the food industry.

On the raw material situation, the peak cost of a basic 15% dairy diet, which comprises barley, wheat, wheat pulp, double-zero rape soya, is €233 per tonne. Once we go post Brexit, that cost will increase, due to tariffs on the UK side, to €307 per tonne, a 30% increase in the actual feed input costs to the farmer. This in itself is a huge cost.

We feel it is imperative that the €5 billion Brexit adjustment fund is used and that the Government gives much support to the Irish farmer. The industry feels that there is going to be serious cash flow issues this year and in years to come.