Farmer groups highlight need to protect Ireland’s €5bn food exports to UK

Any trade tariffs imposed on exports to the UK would be disastrous for Irish farming and food, ICMSA president John Comer has warned.

Speaking ahead of today’s all-island civic dialogue on Brexit, to be chaired in Dublin by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Mr Comer said €5bn worth of Irish food goods are exported to UK markets in a trade that has been developed and maintained over decades if not centuries.

Mr Comer said: “An acrimonious Brexit that leaves Irish food and agri-exports to the UK subject to tariffs or any other additional charges would be an unmitigated disaster for Ireland’s €10bn farming and food sector.