Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is important to acknowledge the progress made in markets in the Persian Gulf and China which possibly offer alternative markets. However, having so much beef going to the United Kingdom is a grave concern for beef farmers. What amount of beef does the Minister expect to be exported to the alternative markets and how soon will they be flourishing? Anybody who is involved in agriculture realises things do not happen overnight. The same applies to markets. How soon will they be ready? What timeframe and targets has the Minister set out? Will they be able to accommodate such a large amount, given that we export so much beef to the United Kingdom?

The second issue is the level of staff and energy and effort being put into this matter. Is the Minister satisfied that there is an adequate number of staff involved? For example, Bord Bia hired only seven additional staff last year and the Department had permission to assign only eight staff from existing resources to the dedicated Brexit unit. Is the Minister satisfied that an adequate number of staff are available in that regard?

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