Unresolved UK EU divorce bill will cost Ireland

The continued failure by Britain’s negotiators to produce a meaningful proposal for exiting the EU has the potential to create significant collateral damage for Ireland. The infantile “go whistle” comments by Boris Johnson in relation to settling the EU exit costs does nothing to move the Brexit negotiations onto a serious and realistic level.

With 20 months outstanding to the exit date from the EU, there is precious little time for serious negotiations which should not be wasted on foolish game playing.

Our farmers, who rely on subventions under the EU’s common agricultural policy, have perhaps most to fear, as the loss of the significant UK contribution to the EU agricultural budget will inevitably reduce supports to the sector through a combination of direct payments to farmers, financial assistance towards investments in rural development, and environmental protection and market support measures. EU subsidies to farmers alone came to €1.6bn last year.