This is a subscriber-only article
In the event of a no-deal Brexit there will be checks on goods and live animals, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned.
On the location of checks, the Taoiseach said: “As far as possible, they will take place in ports, airports and at businesses. But some may need to take place near the border. We are working out the details of this with the European Commission.”
Speaking to an audience at the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce, Varadkar outlined a number of consequences of a no-deal Brexit, including the application of tariffs on goods. He said a no-deal would cause economic growth to slow but a return to recession was not anticipated.
I see no upsides to no-deal. I do fear it. But I am prepared for it
No-deal
“Unfortunately, given political developments in the UK, there is a significant and growing risk of no deal. We don’t wish to see a no-deal Brexit and we will continue our efforts to avoid one, but not at any cost. Unlike some, I see no upsides to no-deal. I do fear it. But I am prepared for it.”
The Taoiseach detailed work under way to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. He alluded to further financial supports that will be announced in Budget 2020. These supports will be made available to the vulnerable areas of agriculture, industry, tourism and the border region.
Among the supports will be a €200m rescue and restructure fund to “save businesses vulnerable because of Brexit but still viable with adaptation”.
BEAM
For farmers, he said the €100m BEAM scheme had recently opened for applications. To date, some 20,000 farmers out of a possible 70,000 have signed up.
Varadkar said BEAM would “provide financial aid to Irish beef farmers facing difficult circumstances as a result of market volatility and uncertainty arising out of Brexit”.
SHARING OPTIONS: