Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is an extremely important issue. As Russia is the third largest non-EU export market for Irish goods after the United States and China, the ongoing tensions between the EU and Russia over the crisis in Ukraine are creating serious obstacles for Irish exporters to Russia, according to the Irish Russia Business Association. I understand that companies, particularly in the Irish agrifood sector, have been hit hardest by the retaliatory sanctions against the European Union and the concerns of these companies, particularly in the agrifood sector, are growing. These companies are really worried about the continuation of these sanctions and the lack of a resolution.

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