Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
915. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his attention and that of his Department have been drawn to difficulties arising from Brexit for the bloodstock industry and national hunt racing; if any particular response has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4346/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the challenges Brexit has brought to the equine sector, as it has to all agri-food sectors. My Department worked closely with all stakeholders, other Government Departments and agencies and other European Union (EU) Member States to ensure that the best possible deal between the EU and the United Kingdom (UK) could be obtained. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is very welcome in that it established a trading relationship based on zero tariffs and quota restrictions, and avoided what would have been very damaging tariffs in the event of ‘No Deal’.
However, even with the TCA in place, the reality is that the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the Single Market and the Customs Union means that operators must engage with a range of customs procedures and regulatory checks and controls on their trade with the UK that did not apply before 1st January.
There are more than 16,000 thoroughbred journeys per year between Ireland and GB, including movements to races, sales or for breeding. More than 5,000 of those movements are between Ireland and Continental Europe, using the GB land bridge. Brexit means that EU import rules apply to the entry of horses from Great Britain in the same way as they apply to imports of horses from other third countries. My Department has engaged regularly with stakeholders for the past number of years to ensure they are informed of the potential impact of Brexit on the equine industry, including issuing a number of guidance notes, and arranging a joint webinar together with the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in December specifically on the issue of equine movement.
My Department has also concluded successor agreements (“Bipartite Agreements”) to the Tripartite Agreement, with Northern Ireland and with France. Because the UK is a non-EU country, it is not legally possible to extend the Tripartite Agreement to Great Britain.
My Department will continue to engage with stakeholders on the challenges of Brexit. In conjunction with other branches of Government, my Department will continue to ensure that the necessary controls are conducted in a manner that ensures the minimum possible disruption to trade flows but also meets Ireland’s regulatory requirements as an EU Member State.
