The cabinet will meet today to discuss the post Brexit trade deal struck between the EU and the UK.
It was due to be held tomorrow but has been brought forward.
It’s expected the sectors impacted most by the Brexit agreement and how support can be provided will also be discussed at today meeting. The fishing industry in Donegal and other coastal areas are examples of sectors that will suffer most according to many observers.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he thinks there will be “some disruption” in ports as a result of Brexit.
“We think there will be some disruption in the ports, obviously our own ports but also in Holyhead and Dover. But this time of the year is not a very busy time of year in terms of freight, so we think we’ll be able to manage,” Varadkar said.
The Tánaiste also confirmed he will be launching a €100 million scheme today for people in the food sector affected by Brexit.
Separately a meeting of the European Parliament’s political leaders will take place this morning to discuss the deal.
The EU-UK trade agreement needs the approval of the EU’s 27 member states and the European Parliament.
Meanwhile in the UK Fishermen there have also expressed their displeasure with the Brexit Deal. The chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation (NFFO), Barrie Deas, accused Borris Johnson of having “bottled it” on fishing quotas to secure only “a fraction of what the UK has a right to under international law”.
Deas said the Prime Minister had “sacrificed” fishing to other priorities, with the subject proving to be an enduring sticking point during negotiations.
Fianna Fail’s Barry Andrews says he’s in favour of the agreement:
