Danny Healy-Rae warns of potential food ban between GB and Ireland
Danny Healy-Rae raised alarm over reports of a potential two-way ban on a wide range of foods moving between Great Britain and the island of Ireland, naming sausages, mints and prepared meals and saying it could take effect next year. He pressed government ministers for immediate action and said the issue is a massive concern for the farmers and the farming community of Ireland.
Reports and potential ban
Danny Healy-Rae said he had been advised by RT News of a possible two-way ban on foods, including sausages, mints and prepared meals, moving between Great Britain and the island of Ireland next year.
Supply chain and cattle price risks
He cited industry warnings that the ban could pose a major disruption to existing meat supply chains between the island of Ireland and Great Britain and could reduce the price of cattle with immediate effect.
Questions to ministers
He asked what actions had been taken yesterday, last night or this morning by the government and specifically by ministers for agriculture and foreign affairs to address the reported problem.
Government response
The Taoiseach responded that Brexit "is not good news" and has created many challenges. He said the issue arises from different stances adopted by the parties to the negotiations and from the operation of the protocol and the withdrawal treaty, that technical discussions and technocrats are working on details, that negotiations are continuing and that there is input from the Joint Committee on the operation of the protocol on Northern Ireland, Ireland. The Taoiseach said they would seek to avoid the situation from materialising.
Farmers' concern emphasised
Danny Healy-Rae reiterated that the potential ban and its effects are a massive concern to the farmers and the farming community of Ireland, stressing the need for clear action from government ministers.
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We were advised yesterday by RT News that there is to be a potential two-way ban on a wide range of foods, including sausages, mints and prepared meals, moving between Great Britain and the island of Ireland next year. Industry sources have warned that the problem could pose a major disruption to existing meat supply chains between the island of Ireland and Great Britain and could reduce the price of cattle with immediate effect. What action have you done yesterday, last night or this morning, or what action have your government ministers for agriculture and foreign affairs? How are you addressing this problem? Because it is a massive concern to the farmers of Ireland, the farming community of Ireland. And in relation to the question raised by Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, Brexit is not good news. And Brexit has created many challenges. And the issue that you've referred to is due to different stances being adopted by the different parties to the negotiations on Brexit and also the operation of the protocol and the withdrawal treaty. And so technical discussions and the technocrats have been involved in trying to harden out details of that kind. The story isn't over yet. The negotiations are continuing. We have an input to that in terms of the Joint Committee in relation to the operation of the protocol on Northern Ireland, Ireland. Thank you, Taoiseach. We obviously will seek to avoid that situation from materialising. Thank you very much, Deputy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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