BREXIT DISASTER: Ireland to beg EU for millions of euros to SAVE farmers and fishermen

Leo Varadkar’s government has alerted the European Commission that it will begin lobbying for emergency aid to help Irish trade if Britain leaves the bloc without a deal. Britain leaves the EU in 85 days and Theresa May is no closer to concluding on the 585-page withdrawal agreement that she agreed with the remaining 27 leaders in November. The Prime Minister is struggling to convince MPs to back the controversial deal, which includes the Irish backstop, after delaying a House of Commons vote in December.

Because of the uncertainty, Michael Creed, the Irish agriculture minister, has announced he will plead with Brussels for a major aid package for Irish business.

He said: “You’re looking at hundreds of millions here. Between the beef industry and the fishing industry we’re talking mega-money.”

Mr Creed will make his pitch to fellow EU agriculture ministers when they meet in Luxembourg in April.

He added: “There is a high level of awareness of Ireland’s unique exposure to the UK food market. But I think nobody wants to talk about it right now because there is still a hope and expectation that a level of sanity will prevail.”

A European Commission spokeswoman said no formal request had been made by Ireland and refused comment until it was.

She said: “In regards to Ireland I think we have recalled many times that this is precisely what we are working for an orderly withdrawal with the UK.”

Taking such a large volume of cash from Brussels would bring an end to Ireland being a net contributor to the EU budget.

And the request comes because Mr Creed believes the odds have been dramatically slashed for a no-deal Brexit.

He said: “In racing parlance the odds are slashed on a hard Brexit. A ‘good Brexit’ would not be as good as what we have right now – but a ‘hard Brexit’ is a beast of a different colour altogether.”

The agriculture minister believes a no-deal divorce would come as a major blow to Ireland because of the levels of produce exported to Britain.

Currently 280,000 tonnes of Irish beef, 80,000 tonnes of cheddar cheese and one-third of the value of Irish fish is caught in British waters.

There is a fear that beef produced at a lower cost in South America would be favoured by the British markets even if tariffs are removed from Irish equivalents.

Mr Creed added: “At the moment Irish farmers are losing their shirts on beef netting €3.80 per kilo.”

And Brexit has already hit the Irish food sector because of the devaluation of the pound, he added.

“A hard Brexit would make that look like a teddy bears’ picnic.”

Stephen Barclay, the Brexit Secretary, has warned British businesses to start preparations for a hard Brexit.

Writing in the Daily Express, he reveals that a new publicity blitz urging the public to be ready for a sudden break with Brussels will be launched next week.

He also warns MPs that the Prime Minister’s plan is “the only workable deal that delivers on the democratic choice of the British people”.

Westminster will reopen the Brexit date ahead of the so-called ‘Meaningful Vote’, which is scheduled for the week beginning January 14.

Mr Barclay said: “We are preparing for all scenarios.

“As 2019 begins, we will accelerate our no deal planning further.”

Mrs May has used her Christmas break to begin canvassing EU leaders for more concessions on the Irish backstop ahead of the Commons vote.