Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has made contact with a retailer (details supplied) regarding the assertion by the new owners of the company that they will not stock Irish beef products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30609/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have not made contact with the retailer named.

It is undoubtedly true that the both the Covid-19 pandemic and the prospect of a no-deal Brexit have contributed to greater pressure from British farming interests for UK retailers to commit to 'buy British'.

Bord Bia continues to liaise closely with key UK customers, including retailers and food service, to work to help maintain hard-won and long standing business for Irish beef exports.

My focus is on ensuring that Irish beef maintains the favourable position it currently holds in the UK market. I can assure the deputy that every effort is being made to at all levels to try to secure a free trade agreement that ensures tariff and quota free trade with the UK.