Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As an exporting nation that needs to get to market more than 90% of everything we produce, whether dairy, beef or seafood, trade agreements are beneficial to us, though not at any cost. Balanced and negotiated trade agreements have benefitted us enormously. The market access we have got as part of EU membership has been enormously beneficial to us. Therefore, I am in favour of trade agreements in principle. The devil is in the detail.

The global demand for seafood is almost insatiable. Markets' demand for the high-quality seafood that our industry is capable of meeting will always deliver a reasonable price. Obviously, trade is a two-way street. There are opportunities in the context of any trade agreement for the trade partner also. There is already trade between Ireland and Canada and there are opportunities for us now in the context of that trade agreement to increase our foothold in Canadian markets. There are also opportunities for Canadians to come in this direction. I have no doubt, given our marketing operations, the commitment of our industry to a high-quality product and the commitment of organisations like Bord Bia, that we can navigate a successful outcome to this.

In the context of trade agreements, as part of the continuing efforts of my Department in terms of market access opportunities, I will be going on a trade mission to the US and Canada next month. I have no doubt that seafood will be an important element of that. We cannot say we are in favour of all of the things we get in other markets but that we do not want anybody coming into our market. That is contrary to the spirit of trade agreements.

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