Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Based on an analysis of British politics, I have some doubts that Mr. Mandelson will be reappointed by the current prime minister, to whom he is not close. The question, however, is where the negotiations will be at that time. This issue was discussed recently at a meeting between members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and their Northern Ireland counterparts. I was stimulated by the discussion to make the point, which is a missing element in the argument, that it is all very well for us to lament the effects on our beef industry but we must also appeal to other people's interests. For centuries — before independence and partition, but also since then — we have been one of the principal suppliers to the British market. They have a high population of nearly 60 million and are unable to feed themselves. They should not think that an outcome that seriously damages the Irish agriculture industry will not have a direct impact on the security of food supply in Britain. Their interests are at stake in this, not just ours. There is a total underestimation across the water of the importance of the agriculture dimension of these negotiations. In a situation of climate change and where there are various security threats, a plentiful supply of food in close proximity is very important. In their dislike of the Common Agricultural Policy, the British are completely blind to where their own interests lie. We need to make that argument as well as underlining how much food they import from Ireland. In difficult situations in future they would be very glad to have that supply. If it is no longer there, however, the population of Great Britain will be in considerable difficulty.

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