Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I stated in reply to previous speakers, I acknowledge that the beef sector is in a difficult space, whether the farmer is a finisher, a producer of weanlings from a suckler herd or rearing calves to beef and selling store cattle. It is not easy for anybody involved. However, the difficulties in the market now and what could happen with a no-deal Brexit - which I hope can be avoided - are very different. Notwithstanding a TRQ for beef, in light of our level of exposure to the United Kingdom market, particularly in beef exports, we could face a tariff rate of 37% on exports to the United Kingdom as a third country. It would immediately have the worst impact on finishers and reflect immediately in the price paid to them. It is important that we maintain our market share while getting out the other side of this. Therefore, the first tranche would be targeted at those beef finishers.

See this speech in context