Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
1593. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if contingency planning is completed for the dairy sector with regard to processing in Northern Ireland if there is no agreement in Brexit talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26548/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, Brexit, has fostered a great deal of speculation with respect to its future trading relationship with the union, including with Ireland. As 40% of Irish agrifood exports go to the UK, Brexit negotiations will be among the most important in terms of potential impact on the sector since the talks prior to Ireland joining the then-European Economic Community.
The United Kingdom including Northern Ireland represents Ireland’s biggest dairy export market by a considerable distance, accounting for up to 30% of exports in the dairy sector. An important issue in terms of the Northern Ireland dimension to any prospective Brexit would be around the de facto all island milk market that currently exists.
Significant volumes of manufacturing milk or primary processed ingredients are taken in by a broad range of ROI processors from Northern Ireland processors. A number of processors also have significant cross border catchment areas in terms of their farmer suppliers, and any re-establishment of a hard border would pose direct difficulties in this respect. A number of dairy processors have stand alone companies in Northern Ireland approved to collect milk in compliance with EU regulations. This raw milk is routinely imported into ROI for processing. In the process to implement arrangements for Brexit, procedures including certification for importation of raw milk and product for further processing would need to be examined, assessed and agreed. In the absence of an agreement on a post Brexit trading or transitional arrangement, this trade would most likely be subject to tariffs, customs arrangements and official controls.
My Department is considering all of these possibilities in conjunction with relevant Government Departments, agencies and with industry. Ultimately, of course, Ireland's objective is to avoid such a scenario, and Government is working with other Member states and with EU institutions to ensure that there is an agreement on the terms of the UK's exit from the European Union and the future trading relationship which protects the interests of the agri food sector in Ireland, including the dairy sector.
