IFA president Joe Healy has called on the Government to allocate immediately the agricultural funding it set aside for Brexit to assist beef farmers, as a deal was reached between the EU and UK.

The IFA president gave a cautious welcome to the Brexit deal concluded in Brussels, but pointed out that the “the real test is the vote in the UK parliament in Westminster on Saturday”.

If ratified, the deal will prevent a no-deal outcome, which would have had severe and immediate consequences for the Irish economy, and the agri sector in particular, Healy said.

He added that the deal appears to address the problem of a hard border and “for these reasons, we would hope that this deal will be approved by the UK parliament”.

Massive challenges

Healy also warned that the ratification of the deal, if secured, will confirm that Britain will be leaving the EU customs union and the single market.

“Ireland and the UK joined the European Union together in 1973 and today’s agreement is a stepping stone towards a moment in history which will bring massive challenges for Irish farming.

There is a very difficult negotiation ahead on the future trading relationship between the UK and EU

"The impact has already been felt in the volatility of sterling and the uncertainty in agricultural markets which has hit beef farmers particularly hard,” Healy said.

“I am therefore calling on the Government to allocate immediately the agricultural funding they set aside for Brexit to assist beef farmers who have suffered grave losses since 12 May this year and are in dire straits, due to political factors totally outside their control.”

Difficulty ahead

“While this deal may provide some level of certainty as we head into a standstill transition phase, there is a very difficult negotiation ahead on the future trading relationship between the UK and EU, where no country has more at stake than Ireland.

“There are legitimate fears that the UK is determined to do new trade deals which would undercut EU food safety and environmental standards in pursuit of a cheap food policy.

"In this regard, the commitments in relation to the ‘level playing field’ could be significant,” Healy said.

“Incoming EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan will play a vital role in these negotiations,” he said.

Read more

Brexit deal agreed in Brussels between EU and UK

What the Brexit deal will mean for farmers