Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Trade
Period
1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019
Specific Details
Brexit - EU Future Trading Relatioship with the UK
Intended results
To highlight on Europe's future trade arrangements with the UK and the UK's determination to pursue an independent trade policy, IFA is concerned that disruptions to the UK market, through the imposition of tariff barriers, border checks, certification requirements, or other regulatory changes, or new entrants to the UK market, could seriously undermine Irish exports and even render our trade uneconomic.
To put on the record that a reduction in import tariffs, an increase in tariff-free access or any lowering of product standards by the UK for the Mercosur countries of South America, or for hormoned beef from the US would fundamentally undermine the competitive positioning of Irish and EU product on the UK market, and reduce the value of the UK market.
To point out that in the dairy sector, one third of our exports go to the UK. It's our main market for cheddar. There is no alternative. Increased low-priced competition on the UK market would destabilise the Irish dairy sector here.
To highlight that in the sheep sector, the key issue is the division of the existing EU Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) of 228,000 tonnes of New Zealand lamb imports and the destination of these imports.
To highlight that across virtually every sector of agriculture, in beef, dairy, lamb, mushrooms and forestry, there is a real threat from reduced access to the UK market through tariff barriers, and a loss in the value of the UK market through increased low-cost imports or any undercutting of EU product standards.
To state that IFA is therefore seriously concerned about the risk of trade displacement for Irish exports to Britain, where Britain could import products from non-EU countries at lower tariffs and possibly lower standards to supply its home market, while continuing to export its own production to the EU. If that were the case, the EU may have to apply tariff quotas on imports from the UK.
To request meeting with the Department of the Taoiseach to discuss
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Bryan Barry, IFA Assistant Director General, Elaine Farrell IFA Oireachtas Executive, Liam MacHale IFA Director Brussels
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (6-10)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Paul Savage
Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
John Callinan
Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)
Neale Richmond
Senator (Seanad)
Michelle Mulherin
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Ian Marshall
Senator (Seanad)
Joe O'Reilly
Senator (Seanad)
Niall Ó Donnghaile
Senator (Seanad)
Seán Kelly
MEP (European Parliament)
Grace O'Sullivan
MEP (European Parliament)
Clare Daly
MEP (European Parliament)