IFA president Joe Healy told the Irish Farmers Journal after the meeting that Barnier was “well read” on the implications of Brexit for Irish farmers. “We we encouraged by his level of understanding for the plight of Irish agriculture and the fact that we are the most exposed sector throughout the EU in these negotiations,” Healy said.

He added that both sides knew exactly where to go when discussing key Irish concerns including the importance of British market access for beef, dairy and mushrooms, as well as the issue of New Zealand lamb coming into Europe.

According to Healy, Barnier invited the IFA to “work closely” with him as negotiations develop. “We’re delighted with that opening to go back to him in the future,” Healy said.

Listen to an interview with Joe Healy by Irish Farmers Journal markets specialist Phelim O’Neill in Brussels in our podcast below.

Listen to “Joe Healy meets the EU chief Brexit negotiator” on Spreaker.

The meeting with Barnier comes days before the European Council of EU heads of government meet to give him guidelines to negotiate with the UK on 29 April.

Asked whether he felt Brussels’ chief negotiator was on the Irish farmers’ side, Healy said his past experience as France’s minister for agriculture was a positive point and added: “I’m very confident that he is fully aware of the importance of agriculture as a sector.”

Creed holds Brexit meetings in margins of EU council

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Listen: EU chief Brexit negotiator 'fully aware' of Irish farming plight – IFA

On Monday, an IFA delegation led by Joe Healy met the man appointed by the European Union to lead exit talks with the UK, former French agriculture minister Michel Barnier.