The consequences of a no-deal Brexit will be catastrophic not just for farmers but for all of rural Ireland, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has reiterated as Brexit talks enter into their final stages in the coming days.

ICSA president Edmond Phelan said he is alarmed at the current impasse on Brexit but remains hopeful that common sense will eventually prevail.

Reacting to the statement by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last night (Wednesday, December 9) in which she said that the position of the EU and UK remain far apart, Phelan said that Ireland is on the precipice of disaster – but so is the rest of the EU and the UK.

It would be a complete failure of diplomacy and statecraft to allow no deal at this point.

“The beef sector cannot endure another calamity just at a point when there has been some improvement in the outlook,” the president said.

“The €5 billion Brexit EU fund will be totally inadequate if there is no deal. Ireland cannot find another market for 270,000t of beef in the near future and the consequences will be catastrophic not just for farmers but for all of rural Ireland.

“It would be particularly outrageous given that progress has been made on a lot of issues.

Obviously the issue of a level playing field on product standards is tricky – but surely both sides are committed to quality food?

“The Taoiseach must use every opportunity at the EU summit today and tomorrow to emphasise the disaster facing us all.

“It is also time for him to make it clear that the €5 billion EU Brexit fund will have to be increased by multiples if no deal is done,” Phelan concluded.