The urgent need for Ireland to decide on key priorities and coordinate its message to the EU in relation to Brexit was highlighted at a gathering of agri-food leaders in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny yesterday.
The forum, organised by the Agricultural Science Association, heard that the negotiation of any bilateral trade agreements are highly unlikely and that the current "scattergun approach" from trade organisations, lobby groups and Government will not work in stabilising the Irish economy in the wake of Brexit.
The ambitious targets set out under Food Wise 2025 were questioned and the panel agreed that they were still achievable in principal, but that the industry must look at new ways of getting there.
It was highlighted that the key period for negotiation will be March 29th – April 29th and that Ireland needs to urgently communicate a number of clear solutions including measures for dealing with the Northern Ireland border issue, ways of continuing to trade with Britain and the provision of funding.
The event featured a panel discussion with contributions from John Moloney (Chair, Food Wise 2025), Lucinda Creighton (EU Advisory Company Vulcan Consulting), Jim Power (Economist) and Joe Healy (IFA President). The panel was agreed that as a result of Brexit, Ireland is currently in unchartered waters and that the agri-food sector was by far the most exposed sector.
Lucinda Creighton highlighted that Brexit is further complicated by an increasingly turbulent EU political environment with upcoming elections in France and Germany and that Ireland lacked a coordinated message to the EU.
"The feedback I get from Europe is that Ireland is more active than any other country, that we have lobby groups going over from all sectors but they are getting different messages from everybody and they don’t know what Ireland wants and what our end game is," said Creighton. "It is still totally unclear as to what we as a country are proposing and this needs to be defined and communicated as a matter of urgency."
Economist Jim Power strongly agreed with Lucinda Creighton that any talk of a bilateral trade agreement would not be entertained by the EU, describing such a concept as “fantasy”. In addition, a need for some form of “transitional funding” for Irish agri-food businesses was discussed as a measure which could potentially be sanctioned by the EU in recognition of Ireland’s unique position in the wake of Brexit.
Source: www.businessworld.ie
