The Department of Agriculture is banking on a soft Brexit scenario, where no changes will be needed to trade regulations in Ireland.

Paul Savage, head of Brexit and international trade at the Department, told a joint Oireachtas committee on agriculture on 6 November: “We’re operating on the basis that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland.”

He said that while additional export certification wouldn’t be required, the Department had prepared additional staff and IT arrangements in case a pre-notification export system is put in place.

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for agriculture Martin Kenny raised concerns on potential changes to veterinary certificates and checks for livestock being traded across the border.

However, Savage stated that the Irish Government was “very much focused on achieving and agreeing a backstop”.

Addressing concerns regarding Ireland’s dependence on the UK as a beef export market, Savage said: “There will be changes regardless of what happens here… but we’re hoping to avoid tariffs.”