Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched an important report on Brexit. We brought in all the stakeholders from the agricultural and fishing communities and from the food industry. It is a comprehensive 124-page document and I compliment everyone who was involved in its production and on the work put into it. It is important, from the Seanad's point of view, to use the information available in that report to feed into the Seanad's own Brexit committee. I propose Members have a debate in this House on the report published yesterday to inform Members who were not on that committee about the 27 recommendations it contains. That could feed into the greater document which will be produced by the Seanad's Brexit committee.There is potential benefit for many industries. One industry that cannot benefit, but will be grossly affected, is the agricultural industry. There is no positive whatsoever. As bad as the agricultural industry will be affected, the fishing industry, which I know the Cathaoirleach has exceptional knowledge of, will be very badly affected. It is a huge issue. Taking the information from that extensive report can feed into the greater works that are being proposed by the Brexit committee set up last week.