Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D. yesterday met with his Northern Ireland counterpart Michelle McIlveen, MLA, Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs, at the North South Plenary Ministerial meeting which took place in Dublin Castle. 

Speaking after the meeting Minister Creed said that “The outcome of the UK Referendum could have an impact on the veterinary, trading and animal health arrangements between North and South. Clearly there are very significant implications also for the fishing fleet in both jurisdictions. In that context, I agreed with Minister McIlveen that our officials should meet at the earliest opportunity to work through some of the potential issues involved and I am committed to ensuring that our Departments work well together in the coming months in the best interests of farmers and the wider industry.”

The Minister added that “As part of our overall contingency planning, I have established a dedicated unit in my Department to work on all of the issues of concern. I have also established a Consultative Committee of stakeholders to ensure a full exchange of information as the negotiations proceed. The consultative committee will have its first meeting later this week.”

Minister Creed emphasised that the trading relationship remains unchanged and the impact of a UK exit will not be apparent until the post-exit relationship has been agreed.  Minister Creed said that in the meantime he looked forward to ongoing dialogue in the context of the Government’s co-operation with its counterparts in Northern Ireland and in the UK more generally.

To view Press Release as PDF: DAFMPR 73/2016 (pdf 377Kb) 

Date Released: 05 July 2016