Irish show how it's done
MPI director general Ray Smith reckons NZ has a lot to learn from the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority – called Teagasc (pronounced ‘Chog us’).
With the UK exiting the EU, NZ won’t have the same advocacy and support in Brussels, but O Calloai says Ireland is now willing to take over the role of advocate for NZ.
Fronting a big Irish presence at Fieldays, he admitted there may be issues NZ and Ireland won’t agree on, but believes these can be worked through.
He says Ireland and NZ share close cultural and heritage connections and understand each other well. NZ’s recent decision to open an embassy in Dublin is a very positive move; Ireland regards NZ as a priority country and will some time look at opening an embassy here.
“We are very close to NZ in terms of global issues at the UN. There is a commonality of interests between our two countries and we as exporters have similar economic challenges,” O Callaoi told Rural News.
“Both sides can learn from each other and create a win-win situation; the close ties that already exist can be enhanced.”
Meanwhile, NZ’s special agricultural trade envoy Mike Peterson says NZ would welcome Ireland as a friend, but says a challenge exists in Irish sensitivities about agriculture. NZ would willingly work to resolve any differences.
The recent UK election has fuelled further speculation about what Brexit might be, but Petersen says little is likely to change.
“Brexit is going to happen, but there is a lot of talk about whether we are going to see a soft or hard Brexit. I think it will be a hard Brexit of some sort and I don’t think this election result will change things fundamentally.”
