James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This question arises out of the current fears of farmers in my constituency. The Wexford agricultural sector is facing many threats with the imminent departure of the UK from the European Union. Wexford has a strong agrifood sector and the county provides 10% of the country's total agrifood output. Brexit presents a serious economic threat to the agrifood sector as a whole. As the Minister of State is aware, 270,000 jobs rely on the agrifood sector in this country. The value of agrifood exports arising out of agricultural output in County Wexford is €500 million. Several agrifood businesses have already been hit hard due to currency fluctuations and a reluctance to invest as a result of the uncertainty around Brexit. I am somewhat alarmed by the apparent lack of concern that seems to be emanating from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine concerning the existential threats to some sectors within the agrifood sector.

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