Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's answer is fine and I am sure it is correct, but the goalposts have changed. The CSO figures for 2016, and I questioned the Taoiseach on this during Leaders' Questions two weeks ago, show a drop in the value of exports of almost €500 million, that is, €480 million, for 2016. Most of this drop occurred between June and the end of the year, after the Brexit vote. Even more seriously for people such as Deputy Smyth and I in particular, small food businesses are being affected because almost all of the loss is in the food and drink sector and the Minister must take this on board.

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