Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

3 o’clock

I would like to share one minute of my time with Deputy John Brassil.

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in the Dáil on the decision returned last Friday by the British electorate to exit the European Union. While the decision may have come as a shock and a disappointment to many, it is one that we must accept. We have to respect the will of the British people. Since the foundation of the State in 1922, we have consistently and constructively engaged with our closest neighbours to build a strong relationship that has seen them become our largest trading partners. It has taken the better part of a century to construct the special relationship we have with the British, which is why Ireland must be to the fore in the impending negotiation process to protect what has been built.

The Taoiseach gave a commitment in his address last Monday that he and his officials would be at the table for every major decision in the negotiations. This is obviously welcome. However, I remind the Taoiseach of the importance of the negotiations to our agricultural output, 40% of which goes directly to Britain. For example, just over half of all our beef exports - 52% to be exact - go directly to Britain. Some 84% of our poultry exports and 30% of total dairy products are exported to Britain. As a farmer, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of ensuring the agricultural market is prioritised, protected and enhanced. The beef and dairy markets, in particular, have endured much volatility of late. The Taoiseach must ensure farm families and the communities of rural Ireland are not adversely affected by the impending negotiations. Even though we are a member of the European Union, we must have our bilateral arrangements recognised by Brussels and seek the necessary exceptions to protect such vital trade agreements.

A report published by Teagasc in April serves as a stark reminder of the potential implications for the agriculture industry. The report examined four scenarios in the event of Brexit. The largest impact showed a reduction in total Irish agricultural food exports of €800 million, while the smallest estimated an annual loss of agricultural food exports of circa€150 million or 1.4% of agricultural export value. That is serious. Obviously, the magnitude of the potential loss in agriculture export value would depend on Britain’s future trading relationship with the 27 members, including Ireland, and the direction of British agricultural policy, both of which remain unknown. I suggest the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, seek talks with his British counterpart in an effort to provide some certainty on the many questions that have arisen surrounding the agriculture sector post-Brexit.

Of course, Brexit raises many concerns about the North. There has been a common travel area since the 1920s. The British and Irish Governments have agreed reciprocal visa arrangements, including free passport travel, measures to increase the security of the external common travel area and sharing immigration responsibilities between the two countries’ immigration authorities. Ireland must do all it can to try to preserve the common travel area, as any change would have significant effects on the labour market, trade and tourism. The peace process and the Good Friday Agreement which was achieved through years of painstaking work by political figures on both sides are often championed as an example to the rest of the world of how peace can be achieved in even the most difficult of circumstances. Therefore, it would be extremely regrettable to return to the days of Border controls between the North and the South which, regretfully, is emerging as a realistic possibility in the fallout from Brexit. I suggest the fallout represents an opportunity for the European Union hierarchy to reflect and take a moment for self-assessment. We need a strong European Union, with cohesion and solidarity among the remaining member states, but, most importantly, we must maintain our unique relationship with Britain for the benefit of the Irish people.

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