A Bunratty-based haulier has warned of “mayhem” if Britain crashes out of the EU without a Brexit deal.
It comes as the Government publishes a new bill aimed at mitigating the impact of a no-deal Brexit, which it hopes will be left sitting on the shelf.
The Tánaiste says he hopes new Brexit laws that have been unveiled today will not need to be used.
The Brexit Omnibus Bill is to prepare for the impacts of a no deal Brexit and contains 15 changes to the law, to make sure everything stays as close to the status quo as possible, when it comes to healthcare, taxation and social welfare payments.
It will allow Enterprise Ireland to provide Brexit-related loans to businesses and make sure buses can still run across the border with Northern Ireland.
Simon Coveney says it can’t completely limit the damage of a no deal Brexit, but he believes it should ease some concerns.
A Bunratty haulier says preparations are well underway in his sector for a no-deal scenario, as they face challenges with customs and the free movement of goods between Ireland and the UK and between Ireland and Europe.
Eoin Gavin, who is a Past President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, says there’s no doubt that without a deal in place, there will be mayhem for people here and across the Irish sea.
Meanwhile, the Clare chair of the Beef Plan Group is hitting out at the government for waiting until now to step in and protect his sector.
If there’s no Brexit deal in place, tariffs will be levied on farm products and it’s been announced that Emergency EU funding will be drawn down to help offset the impact of this.
Brexit could hit the beef sector to the tune of €800 million, and Joseph Woulfe feels action to address this should have been taken sooner, especially when beef farmers are under strain.
