Published on 

Creed Hosts Fourth All-Island Civic Dialogue for the Agri-Food Sector

Minister engages with alcohol, brewing and distilling sector

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, today hosted a fourth All-Island civic dialogue to discuss the implications of Brexit for the agri-food and fisheries sectors. Following on from earlier dialogues in December 2016 and February 2017, today’s event considered the implications for the alcohol, brewing and distilling sectors. 


Speaking after the event, which took place at his Department’s headquarters in Dublin, the Minister referred to the very positive and constructive engagement that had characterised the discussion. He said: “I very much welcome the opportunity today to further extend my own and my Department’s consultation with the agri-food sector on the implications of Brexit. As with the earlier sectoral dialogues which covered the cattle and sheep, cereals, horticulture, and seafood sectors, today’s discussions were conducted in a very open, constructive manner. It allowed myself and my Department to hear at first hand, and in more detail, the concerns of this vitally important sector as the Brexit process moves from an initial, preparatory phase into more substantive negotiations on the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU.”

As with previous dialogues, the discussions today covered a range of issues, including the short-term effects of the ongoing uncertainty, and the longer-term challenges posed by potential changes in the areas of tariffs and trade, regulations and standards, and border controls and certification.

Concluding, Minister Creed emphasised the very worthwhile contribution the day’s proceedings had made to his own and to his Department’s preparations for Brexit. He noted in particular the importance of the all-island dimension for the alcohol, brewing and distilling sector, and took on board the particular concerns of the industry in this regard. He said: “I want to again thank today’s participants for their very positive contributions to what have been very helpful discussions, and I look forward to further engagement with stakeholders as the negotiation process unfolds over the coming months.”