Ireland would seek hundreds of millions of euros in aid from Brussels if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed was quoted as saying on Thursday.
“You’re looking at hundreds of millions [of euros] here,” Creed told the Irish Independent. “Between the beef industry and the fishing industry, we’re talking mega-money.”
With the British parliament locked in stalemate over the painstakingly brokered draft Brexit deal, the possibility of Britain leaving the trading bloc in March without an agreement now looms ever larger.
The emergency aid for Ireland would aim to buttress sectors such as beef, dairy and fishing — those most exposed to customs and regulatory changes likely to arise if Britain severs all ties.
Nearly 80 percent of Irish exporters deliver products to Britain, according to 2016 government data.
The nation is also considered a vital “land bridge” to the European continent.
“There is a high level of awareness of Ireland’s unique exposure to the UK food market,” Creed said. “I think nobody wants to talk about it right now because there is still a hope and expectation that a level of sanity will prevail.”
However, he added: “In racing parlance the odds are slashed on a hard Brexit.”
If Britain crashes out of the EU on March 29, Creed said he hoped an EU grant would be approved at a Luxembourg summit of EU farming ministers in April.
On Thursday, the Irish Cabinet met to discuss no-deal contingency plans aired publicly for the first time before the Christmas break.
They include schemes for overhauls of ports, a fund for Brexit-specific tax staff and talks to preserve the nation’s integrated electricity network.
Up to 45 pieces of emergency legislation would also be required.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said these would be consolidated and delayed until March to prevent a parliamentary log jam.
“We’re now going to have two weekly reports at Cabinet around planning for a no-deal [exit],” Varadkar said, outlining further Brexit preparations after Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. “The real focus today was on legislation, on medicines and also on transport — making sure that we have the protections and stockpiles, and everything we need in place.”
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