The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has called for direct and indirect support to help the farming community through the Brexit process.
Speaking to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine this week, representatives of the organisation stressed the need for active support relevant to the final Brexit outcome.
In his address to the committee, Henry O’Donnell outlined the importance of ensuring continued access to the British market for the 250,000t of Irish beef worth €1.2 billion each year.
He maintained it is “vital that we get tariff-free access to this market which can only be achieved through the finalisation of a deal”.
There are proposals to develop a unique naturally-reared suckler beef brand which can be targeted at the high-end British market, delivering a much higher price that must be reflected back to the primary producer.
Going forward, O’Donnell outlined the threat posed to our farmers by future UK trade deals that could see the importation of cheaper beef. With this in mind, he stressed the need for a change in direction for suckler-produced beef.
Increased role of Irish meat processors
O’Donnell also highlighted the increasing role Irish meat processors are playing in the British market, where they now have as “equally large a footprint as in Ireland”.
It’s vital that they, alone, don’t get to dictate policy on beef – as their policy is not always in the best interests of farmers.
With regards to Northern Ireland, he stated “how there has to be free movement of goods and livestock across the border with no impediments”.
“We must also ensure that goods produced in Britain which come into Northern Ireland must meet EU standards and do not contain ingredients from outside the EU that do not reach EU standards.”
In his address to the committee, Vincent Roddy pointed to the opportunity provided by the large Irish population (including first and second generation) residing in Britain.
There is, he stated, an opportunity here that we need to “capitalise on, and one that our potential competitors don’t have”.
European market access
On access to the European market where Irish meat and dairy exports are worth €3 billion each year, Roddy stressed the importance of ensuring produce to these markets continues to be delivered in a timely and efficient manner.
Unfortunately, this will provide us with a major problem, as 85% of this trade is currently delivered through the UK land-bridge.
“The popularity of this option is based on it being the most efficient and reliable.
“Irrespective of the outcome of any final Brexit deal, transporting through the land-bridge will be considerably slower and not as reliable – which is why we need other options.”
With the shortest sea route to Europe from the port of Rosslare with Cork and Waterford two other options, Roddy maintained how the only viable option is direct sailings on a roll-on roll-off basis from these ports to Europe.
This will be vital not just for current trade, but for possible additional trade in the event of a no-deal Brexit, according to the INHFA.
Roddy said that in this scenario, the UK will see a “reduction in its current output of 100,000t of beef, which is valued at almost €500 million into Europe, and a reduction in sheep meat sales valued at over €400 million each year”.