Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Britain is only 60% self-sufficient and, of course, there will be a market. Given our linguistic and cultural links, our good products, including Origin Green, and sustainability, we will penetrate that market. However, let us face reality. A 1% weakening in sterling equates to a 0.7% decrease in exports to the UK. There is an 11% differential with sterling today but it was almost 50% at one stage. We must factor this in. Bord Bia and the other agencies are involved but has the Department adopted a co-ordinated approach to point out the scenarios to farmers? This decision will take five years or more to implement. When this is all over, farmers will be whinging and crying and saying "We were not informed". I want them to be informed as soon as the Minister finds it possible to do so. I acknowledge that he does not have a silver bullet and is not a soothsayer but, in so far as he can, he should outline a number of scenarios to ensure they are fully alert.

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