The boss of the country’s largest beef processor has voiced concerns over trade deals involving Europe.

Chief executive of ABP Paul Finnerty said that he remains “concerned” over a trade deal between the EU and the US.

The trade deal, which is known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), is currently being negotiated

“We have concerns around TTIP and the potential negative consequences for the beef sector if there aren’t carefully introduced measures to cushion the blow in terms of beef imports into Europe,” Finnerty said.

Speaking at an ABP event last week, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said if TTIP is not concluded this year, then he remains convinced that the trade deal will not happen at all.

Kenny was referencing the US presidential elections in 2016, which could see different ideologies in the White House regarding a trade deal.

Finnerty has previously voiced his opposition to a potential British exit from the EU. He highlighted the threat posed by South American beef in the event of a British withdrawal from the EU.

“The Mercosur region of South America produces food more cheaply and to different standards than European countries,” Finnerty told an Irish Exporters Association event in Dublin in June.

“If the British were to withdraw from the EU, they will likely negotiate free trade agreements with South American countries, which would have serious unintended consequences for Irish agriculture. The end result would likely be price deflation, which would have a negative impact on Irish cattle prices and the 80,000 to 90,000 farming families dependent on Irish exports,” he added.