Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. I am happy to be able to speak on this issue of huge importance this evening. Ireland is left in a very uncertain place following Britain’s decision to leave the EU last year. We are well aware of the great difficulties we will face along the Border with Northern Ireland and the economic implications to which it will give rise. I wish to voice one view that is rarely heard, however, namely, that of Irish fishermen in the context of their concerns about their future following Brexit. In my own constituency of Cork South West, the fishing community is quite large and its members fear that as soon as Britain formally leaves the EU, both Irish and European trawlers will be banned from British waters. This would result in reduced reach for our Irish fishermen and increased numbers of trawlers fishing in already overcrowded Irish waters.

Many say that areas in the South will not feel any effect from Brexit and that the Border counties are the only ones that will be hit. This is simply not true. Recent CSO figures have noted a 6.4% decline in British tourists coming to Ireland, many of whom would usually be visiting the west Cork area, a popular destination for tourists all year long. This is largely down to the drop in the value of sterling against the euro. British tourists are vital to the Irish tourism industry and represent over two in every five international visitors to the country. The chairman of the Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, Aaron Mansworth, expressed his fears that the recent recovery in tourism is now under threat as a result of Brexit.

I have met many farming organisations, including the Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association. They are greatly concerned about the implications Brexit will have on the Irish agri-industry, especially through our agri-exports. The UK was the market for 50% of Irish beef exports. A loss of access to the UK markets would destabilise the overall dairy sector here, as a third of all our exports went to the UK and it was our main market for cheddar. I think it is vital that our Government strongly negotiate for fair deals with Britain in terms of farming and fishing to secure their economic future here.

I think it is fair to say that Brexit will do more harm than good to Ireland, whatever way it falls. It is hugely important that we look for as soft a Brexit as possible in terms of trade barriers, Northern Irish relations and to keep growing our unique Irish-British relations.

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