TÁNAISTE and Minister for Foreign and Trade Simon Coveney was the final speaker at the ITBA National Seminar at the Lyrath Estate, Kilkenny and he emphasised that the Government and Brussels are fully aware of the difficulties facing racing and the bloodstock industry if there is a no-deal Brexit on March 29th. He doesn’t expect Britain to crash out of the EU but the challenges facing the sector, which is so reliant on the British market, are severe.

“If the UK leaves with no deal there will be 100% animal inspection at the border,” and the documentation and paperwork involved would impose onerous burdens.