Fianna Fáil don’t understand the EU single market – they could not be trusted with the Brexit negotiations – Richmond

Fianna Fáil clearly don’t understand how the EU single market works, following calls for bans on products from other EU Member States by their TDs this week, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Seanad Spokesperson on European Affairs, Neale Richmond said: “Since 1973, Ireland has been a proud and active member of Europe’s single market, first through the EEC and now the EU. The core principle of the single market means that goods and services can pass from Member State to Member State without any restrictions, tariffs or conditions.

“The calls this week by a Fianna Fáil TD on the Dáil’s Order of Business for restrictions on products from other EU Member States coming into Ireland are extremely worrying.  This is not just a one off. It follows a topical issue debate tabled by another Fianna Fáil TD last week along the same lines.

“If these TDs were in Government, such calls would have a major impact on Ireland’s standing within the EU. They directly contradict the rules of the single market, a market this Government has worked steadfastly over the past three years to protect in the face of Brexit.

“The European single market is Ireland’s most valuable and important market. That Fianna Fáil TDs would contradict its rules raises serious questions: do Fianna Fáil understand the single market, do they understand the rules of international trade?

“As Brexit approaches its next phase where we begin negotiations on an EU UK Free Trade Agreement, it is very alarming that Fianna Fáil seem to have no grasp on how trade works or how the EU single market works. Is trade protectionism now official Fianna Fáil policy? If so the public have a right to know how damaging such an approach would be for an export led economy such as ours.”

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

The relevant questions were from:

Deputy Margaret Murphy O’Mahony – Questions on Promised legislation, Wed 4th Dec 2019
“Why is the Government standing over the importation of beef from other countries when we have enough beef here? This is obviously greatly affecting prices. Why is the Government standing over the importation of beef when there is no need for it?”

Deputy Jackie Cahill – Topical Issue (not selected by Ceann Comhairle), Tue 3rd Dec 2019
“To address the impact of beef imports on pricing for Irish beef producers”