Concerns are rising in Ireland about the potential risk of a no deal Brexit to the local farming industry. Theresa May is forecast to suffer a humiliating loss in Parliament as only 206 MPs are expected to support her proposed Brexit withdrawal deal – threatening to leave the UK without an agreed deal less than two months before Britain leaves the European Union. Tom Short from the Irish Farmers Association has pleaded with the European Commission to "step in" to protect the 45 percent of beef the Republic exports to the UK.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Mr Short said: "We made decisions this time last year. Somebody has to step in here because this is not of our making.
"We didn’t have any hand in the change that’s now coming upon us so our European Commission have to step in."
Farmer Paul Byrne from Co. Wicklow appeared to echo the concerns about a no deal Brexit, branding Britain's decision to quit the bloc a "pain in the a**' for Irish farmers.
He said: "If Brexit proceeds, and we have a hard Brexit on the March 29, March 30, there’s nothing to stop the price of cattle going down.
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Brexit news: Irish farmers have pleaded the Commission to "step in" to stop a no deal (Image: C4 NEWS•EC AUDIOVISUAL)
"The whole beef business would be wiped out completely. It’s a massive unknown,
