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

I would be suggesting safeguards such as seeking a suspension of state aid rules for two to three years. Small and medium enterprises dealing with the agrifood industry that are highly reliant on the UK market must be brought to the table. Solutions have to be found for the huge cross-Border trade in milk, livestock and other agricultural products. We have factories such as Lakeland and others that operate across both sides of the Border. Trade adjustment funds may well have to be formulated to support businesses in these areas. The Minister of State is acutely aware that the UK is deficient in beef. The British are now going to be looking for alternative sources.

This facilitates Argentinian beef imports.

Another issue is that a significant element of Irish exports are transited through Britain and, clearly, a difficulty will arise with that. Will we face the reintroduction of veterinary certificates for beef exports to other EU member states if they are transited through the UK? The impact of Brexit on bloodstock sales has been clearly set out by Deputy Martin Kenny. We heard about it already from Mr. Kavanagh. There are major areas involved and the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, is just one aspect of it.

I believe we will have to set up some sort of a special unit within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that is properly staffed and resourced to tackle this fundamental problem that we will face during the next two to three years. We want to be ahead of the curve but we are falling a little behind the curve in terms of our preparation and anticipation of what will happen.

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