Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Irish Government on the potential impact on the agri-food industry on the island of Ireland of the proposed trade agreement with Australia.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: Negotiations on trade agreements is a reserved matter and therefore responsibility falls to the UK Government. Consequently it is for the UK Government to decide what discussions they should engage in as regards potential impacts of trade agreements they are negotiating. I am of course happy to discuss matters of mutual interest relating to the agri-food industry with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
ENDS
Your MLA 