Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with the agrifood sector in my first supplementary and with the fishing sector in my second supplementary. The Department's response in terms of resourcing and having the dedicated staff needed to meet the challenge we face has been inadequate. The Brexit unit in the Department, to which the Minister of State referred, has only four people. I accept that everyone is working on this issue but there are only four people in that Brexit unit. There are only six people in the market access unit in the Department which is responsible for opening up new markets. Having regard to the number of agricultural attachés and embassies across the world, there are only five people dealing with those in the Department.

There are only four additional staff being employed in Bord Bia this year to equip it to meet the challenge and it has a massive role to play in this regard. Therefore, the Department's response has been insufficient to date and it needs to be beefed up.

Food Wise 2025 was developed in a pre-Brexit environment. Why has it not been revised to proof it for Brexit to meet that challenge.

See this speech in context