IFA President Tim Cullinan said he welcomed the announcement that the Brexit talks would continue, saying there was no point in setting deadlines for the talks. They must continue until there is an agreement.
“The reality is that even if we don’t have a deal by January 1st, the talks will have to continue until a deal is reached,” he said.
“It would be disastrous for Irish farming if a deal is not done in time for January 1st. We hear a lot of talk about ‘optics’ and ‘perception’ in relation to the negotiations, but all this grandstanding has to stop. It is time to put egos aside. History will judge everyone very harshly if a deal is not done,” he said.
“Irish farming will be the worst affected sector in the worst affected country,” he said.
“We met with the Ulster Farmers Union on Friday to discuss the Northern Ireland protocol and the talks. Farmers here, in Northern Ireland, in the UK and across Europe all need a deal,” he said.
