Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Market development and diversification are also key responses to the challenges Brexit poses for the agrifood sector, especially the beef sector. In 2018 a number of additional markets were opened, including the Chinese beef market, following years of sustained effort. The economic partnership agreement recently signed between the European Union and Japan provides very welcome preferential access to the lucrative Japanese market. The other side of the coin is the protection of Irish interests in the context of international trade negotiations. Nobody has done more than the Government to protect vulnerable Irish sectors in international trade negotiations, including with Mercosur countries. The need to ensure Irish beef is protected will continue to inform our engagement in all such negotiations.

See this speech in context