Farm group alarmed by Brexit impasse

The head of the ICSA has expressed "alarm" at the current impasse on Brexit, warning beef farmers "can't endure another calamity".

The EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met yesterday to try to find common ground on the outstanding issues, however those talks proved unsuccessful.

Ms von der Leyen said that the position of the EU and UK remain far apart, and the EU today outlined contingency plans if a deal is not struck.

Reacting to the statement, ICSA Presiednt Edmond Phelan said that Ireland is on the precipice of disaster but so is the rest of the EU and the UK.

“It would be a complete failure of diplomacy and statecraft to allow no deal at this point,” said Mr Phelan.

“The beef sector cannot endure another calamity just at a point when there has been some improvement in the outlook. The €5 billion Brexit EU fund will be totally inadequate if there is no deal. Ireland cannot find another market for 270,000 tons of beef in the near future and the consequences will be catastrophic not just for farmers but for all of rural Ireland.”

“It would be particularly outrageous given that progress has been made on a lot of issues. Obviously the issue of a level playing field on product standards is tricky but surely both sides are committed to quality food?”

“The Taoiseach must use every opportunity at the EU summit today and tomorrow to emphasise the disaster facing us all. It is also time for him to make it clear that the €5 billion EU Brexit fund will have to be increased by multiples if no deal is done.”