Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday was the day the British Government finally, formally and officially triggered the signing of Brexit some nine months after the referendum in June. By any stretch of the imagination, it was a sad day for Europe and it is very worrying and will have major ramifications for the citizens of this island. It has been described in some of the newspapers this morning as not just a storm for Ireland but an earthquake. While the EU member states will be negotiating the terms of Brexit over the next two years and maybe longer, it is a fact that Ireland will be the country that loses most from this deal.

The British Government seems to be determined to fly the Union Jack more and more while singing "Rule Britannia". At the same time, it is saying it wants the most amicable and lovable divorce in the history of divorces. Citizens across our island, North and South, are genuinely worried about the ramifications of Brexit and how it would seem Ireland has very little influence on the actual outcome. People are worried about the Government not being prepared enough, despite flying around from capital city to capital city, stating our case. However, in the six-page letter yesterday, the importance of not returning to hard borders was mentioned, as was the peace process, which was given priority. The Good Friday Agreement is, after all, an international agreement which has to be upheld. The comments in regard to the common travel area, while welcome, refer to a system in place since the 1920s.

What is really worrying from yesterday is that Chancellor Merkel responded to Prime Minister May by slapping down any parallel talks on trade while the negotiations are ongoing. The UK is traditionally our largest trading partner and we trade €1.2 billion in goods and services every week. Department of Finance officials have already stated that Ireland could face a 30% decline in exports to the UK and a significant rise in unemployment. We all agree the agri-food industry is the most significant industry, employing people right across the country. Exports will be impacted upon, as will trade between North and South. Over 800 million litres of milk are imported from the North annually and we export and import thousands of cattle to the North.

All of these statistics are impacting on consumer confidence as the British are already talking up trade deals between the US, Canada and South American countries. The Minister will come back and say the Government is prepared. How can he say we are prepared, particularly in regard to agri-food industry, when Bord Bia, the agency charged by the State and the Government with selling our industry, has only employed an extra three staff in its Brexit section?

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