Seanad debates

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

11:30 am

Photo of Gerry HorkanGerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for outlining the Order of Business. We will be dealing with Brexit all day.

It is said a week is a long time in politics, but the past 24 hours have been very long and eventful in the politics of Brexit. The recently published suggestion that the British Government allow goods to move freely between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland but not between the Republic of Ireland and mainland Britain without tariffs is very challenging. When the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, spoke on radio this morning, he said it would be an absolute disaster. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, said it would be absolutely disastrous. A no-deal Brexit is still a lose-lose proposition for all of us, including the United Kingdom which could not benefit from it in the slightest. It is important to recognise that 48% of our beef, 21% of our dairy produce, 46% of our cheddar cheese and almost 100% of our mushrooms are exported to the United Kingdom. The plan not to have tariffs on trade with the North but to have them on trade with mainland Britain would absolutely decimate the agrifood sector. The president of the IFA, Mr. Joe Healy, has mentioned how difficult it would be. We know and understand why the Minister, Deputy Creed; the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney; the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and other members of Government are away. It is important that they fly the flag for Ireland across the globe, but the British Government's publication of tariffs has ramped up the situation in a very negative way. If there is a vote in the House of Commons to prevent a no-deal Brexit, I hope it will be passed. I would still prefer Article 50-----

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.