Brendan Smith warns of protocol threat to border agri-food economy
Brendan Smith warned that recent proposals by the British government threaten the border region's agri-food economy and argued that the protocol is working for farmers. He highlighted the dependence of the central border area, Cavan Monaghan from Manituron, on dairy, beef, sheep and cross-border processing in County Cavan.
Summary of remarks
Brendan Smith said the NASC is undertaking work on behalf of the Shared Island Unit and that he had suggested a project focused on the specific challenges faced by the border region, particularly the central border area. He set out concerns about proposals announced by the British government and stressed the need to defend the agri-food sector.
Economic dependence of the border region
He described the local economy as very dependent on the agri-food, engineering and construction products sectors, with Britain as the key export market. That reliance, he said, makes the region especially vulnerable to changes in UK policy and to any move by the British government to renege on international obligations made in previous agreements.
Concerns about regulatory proposals
Smith criticised the British government's dual regulatory approach and warned that changes to food traceability would put many agri-food industries and enterprises at risk. He said the proposals appear not to have been fully thought through and that agricultural and meat industry representatives are alarmed by the announced measures.
Impact on dairy, beef and sheep sectors
He emphasised that the dairy, beef and sheep sectors are interdependent on an all‑Ireland, cross-border basis, noting huge volumes of milk move south for processing in County Cavan and elsewhere. He reported that people in those sectors are frightened by the potential negative consequences of the Foreign Secretary's proposals and insisted a clear message must be sent that the protocol is working.
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Ben told us some time ago that the NASC is undertaking work on behalf of the Shared Island Unit in the context of the economy and regional development. I suggested that a particular work project should be undertaken in relation to the specific challenges faced by the border region, particularly the central border area. Cavan Monaghan from Manituron. We are very dependent on the agri-food, engineering and construction products sectors. Our key market is Britain. That alone demonstrates the vulnerability of our local economy, considering the British government proposes to break its international obligations following an agreement that they made freely. The dairy sector, the beef sector and the sheep meat sector. Each of them, each of those sectors is interdependent on a cross-border and all Ireland basis. The proposals that the British government have put out there at the moment have alarmed and really frightened people in those sectors. They are utterly crazy and a clear message must go back to the British government that the protocol is working in the context of the agri-food and farming sector. And we have huge volumes of milk coming south for processing in County Cavan and elsewhere. In terms of Deputy Smith, I want to say that Deputy Smith has raised a very pertinent point in relation to the dairy sheep meat and how the protocol is working generally for the ag sector. This is something that is not understood, it seems to me, by the British government. And in terms of its dual regulatory approach in particular, in terms of food traceability, it puts a lot of agri-food industries and enterprises at risk if it proceeds with its proposals as announced yesterday. And the agricultural interests and the meat industry and the meat industry and the dairy industry that I met are very, very clear about the negative impact that the Foreign Secretary's proposals would have on the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland. And that's what illustrates more than anything the lack of real thinking through of those proposals by the British government. The first thing that the
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