While Brexit is the single biggest challenge faced by Ireland in decade, there are opportunities for Ireland and counties such as Laois, a meeting in Portlaoise heard last night.
The meeting on ‘Brexit: Our Response’ was held in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel on Monday night by the Fine Gael party.
“Brexit is the greatest and most significant challenge faced by this country in over 50 years,” Deputy Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy said.
However, there are opportunities from it for Ireland, such as the potential relocation from London to Dublin of the European Medicines Agency.
Vincent Cleary, MD of Glenisk, said that there have been positive vibes that there will be no hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland. “As an Irish person I want to have no border,” he said.
He said greater co-operation is required across the island to increase economies of scale.
The uncertainty of the Brexit vote had seen a devaluation of sterling. “We became, overnight, very uncompetitive,” he said.
“We have fine-tuned our business and added value to our products,” he said.
“We need to get the media on board that there is now an opportunity for Ireland. I think Britain made a great mistake by exiting the EU, but that’s now for their politicians to deal with,” he said.
Stressing the importance of agriculture to the Irish economy, IFA National Treasurer Jer Bergin said there is no sector more exposed.
The devaluation of sterling had already caused a hit of €570m off the value of food exports, he said.
The two biggest issues facing Britain will be the potential exit from the single market and on whether they remain in the Customs Union, he said.
Direct payments
In Laois and Offaly, about €93m is paid in direct payments to farmers. “Farming is the single most important economic activity in the two counties,” he said.
“Charlie Flanagan, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, will have a critical role. We have every faith in his ability to represent Ireland and our local agriculture. We in the IFA will be keeping up the pressure and keeping him up to date,” he said.
Minister Flanagan joked that this keeping up to date was really “kicking me around the place”. He added that the government works glove in hand with the IFA.
While Ireland didn’t want Brexit to happen, he said he had to respect the decision as a democrat.
“Our priorities are our citizens, our economy and the peace process,” he said.
He said they would work hard to ensure that Ireland and the UK enjoys a close trading relationship, “not withstanding that we will retain our membership of the EU,” he said.
A lively questions and answers session followed the presentations.
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