Brendan Smith Warns Dual Food Rules Threaten Agri-Food
Brendan Smith warned that proposed dual regulatory regimes for food would threaten the agri-food and dairy sectors and harm cross-border trade. He called on EU member states to continue supporting Ireland and criticised the British Government's plan to tear up parts of the protocol.
EU support since 2016
He recalled that since 2016 other EU Member States, including France, have been supportive of Ireland's concerns and interests in relation to Brexit.
Investment in peace programmes and economic progress
He said the French Government and others at EU level were very supportive of investment in the peace programmes from the mid-1990s, investment that was critical for economic and social progress on both sides of the border after the Good Friday Agreement.
Growth of the cross-border agri-food sector
He highlighted the agri-food sector in his constituency and neighbouring counties as a cross-border and all-Ireland success, noting the border region is now much less dependent on earlier financial transfers because the cross-border economy has developed.
Risks of two regulatory regimes for food
He described the British Government's idea of two regulatory regimes for food as "absolutely ludicrous", saying a dual framework is not viable, would break food processing chains and create certification and traceability problems for transfers such as milk from Northern Ireland to southern processors.
Industry and manufacturing concerns
A contributor to the debate agreed, calling a dual regulatory framework a form of economic illiteracy that undermines full traceability and creates challenges for exporters. The point was made that many in manufacturing and dairy feel they have benefited under the protocol.
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Since 2016, other EU Member States, including France, have been very supportive of Ireland's concerns and interests in relation to Brexit. We will recall that the French Government and others at EU level were very supportive of investment in the peace programmes from the mid-1990s. At that time, that investment was critical for economic and social progress, both on the northern and southern side of the border. Thankfully today, our border region, north and south, is much less dependent on that type of financial transfer, because the cross-border economy and the all-Ireland economy has developed so much since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. One of the areas that is of particular importance in my own immediate constituency and north of the border and our neighbouring counties as well is the agri-food sector, which has grown on a cross-border and all-Ireland basis. It is essential that the other Member States of the European Union continue to support the Irish Government in protecting those sectors. That sector now is very vulnerable should the British Government decision to tear up parts of the protocol be implemented. It is absolutely ludicrous for the British Government to come up with the idea of two regulatory regimes for food. It is not viable. Who would certify the transfer of milk from Northern Ireland to southern processing units? A food chain in the context of processing cannot be broken. Thank you. Deputy Smith, if I could say this, I think you are correct in relation to what is transpiring in terms of the decision that has been made, in terms of the dual regulatory framework. All of those involved in industry and manufacturing and the dairy industry and agri-food are saying this loud and clear. It is a form of economic illiteracy from the perspective of Northern Ireland that you would create such a dual regulatory framework, framework because it does not allow for full traceability and creates challenges for those exporting into markets. This has been pointed out to me by the interests concerned. I have pointed this out. Manufacturing in Northern Ireland are saying they have had the best time under the protocol. Thank you very much for taking care of us. Have we got some investments lesson? Thank you, very much under the direction we are today. Please take questions aboutiedy. . Please take a look.
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