The Government must put in place financial support funds for vulnerable Irish Agri-Food sectors to battle post-Brexit tariffs.
The political games that are being played out in Westminster make it impossible to predict what kind of regime will be in place in a few months’ time. I have been contacted by many farmers in Mayo who are petrified at the impact of any possible tariffs on agri-food products into the north. Sinn Féin was the only party to launch a Brexit contingency plan. I again call on the Government to look at its proposals and act now rather than waiting on a political process in London, over which we have no control.
Yesterday in the Seanad, I introduced an amendment to the Brexit Omnibus Bill, calling on the Government to introduce a €2 billion Brexit stabilisation Fund to support farmers, exporters, SMEs and investment in infrastructure. Irrespective of whatever Brexit outcome materialises, we need the Government to provide that fund.
We also called for the Government to examine all methods of easing State Aid Rules in order to allow for more investment in certain sectors and industries where necessary. The fiscal rules and their inbuilt austerity logic must be challenged now more than ever. The EU cannot say it will protect Ireland in its words and then tell us we can’t protect ourselves through their rules.
Waiting on Westminster is simply not good enough. Sinn Féin’s Brexit plan is as relevant in any possible Brexit scenario. The lack of planning and investment by the Government gives the public the false impression that there is some kind of good Brexit. That will never be the case and the Government needs to provide reassurance immediately.
