7. What discussions has the Counsel General had with counterparts in Ireland about the impact of any Brexit settlement on future trade with Wales? OAQ53619

I have discussed the importance of maintaining frictionless trade between Wales and Ireland with Ministers from the Republic, including at the last meeting of the British-Irish Council, and I hope very much to be meeting my counterpart in the Irish Government to build upon the existing close relationships between Wales and Ireland.

I read about huge pessimism on both sides of the Irish border, and I'm concerned to probe with you what the impact on our trade with Ireland could be because we know that we export over £1 billion-worth of goods to Ireland, and most Irish exports come through Fishguard, Pembroke and Holyhead to other parts of Europe. So, that is one huge aspect of it that is very difficult to understand how it's all going to work out, given that there's a possibility of 'no deal', a quick-fix deal, a jobs-and-economy deal, or if the public decide not to leave the European Union. It seems to me it's hugely important that with our nearest neighbour we continue to maintain good trade and other relationships with them. I just wondered how difficult that is proving to be, given that London seems to have very little idea of where either Wales or Ireland are.

Well, underlying the question is the question of uncertainty about what happens next, and plainly that is the overarching context for all that reflection and discussions. I was in Holyhead a few weeks ago, talking to the port authorities there. Obviously, one of the biggest variables in what happens to them after we leave the European Union is the response in Dublin, in the port there, in terms of border infrastructure and checks and so on. That's a significant issue, as the question obviously acknowledges.

There are, of course, other dimensions to this. We saw, as I mentioned in my response to an earlier question, the publication of the UK Government's proposals for tariffs in the event of 'no deal' and they have a dimension that affects trade with Ireland, in relation in particular to beef imports, and there's also, of course, the commitment in that policy document to ensuring that there will be no customs checks on the border with the Republic, which feels to me like it's not a sustainable long-term arrangement in a context where otherwise there isn't a broader customs relationship, and, of course, it poses a potential challenge for us here in Wales. If it is easier to ship goods from the Republic into Northern Ireland without tariffs and from there into Great Britain, that may pose a challenge for the trade route from Ireland directly into Wales. So, I think these dimensions need to be—. There are many unintended consequences to some of these policy decisions, so we're very alive to some of the potential challenges we may face in that context.

Given reports that the Brexit Protest and Direct Action Group, led by figures involved in the 2000 fuel protests, are threatening to disrupt Irish trade with a go-slow on the A55 this Friday and a blockade of Holyhead and Pembroke Dock on Saturday, what will the Welsh Government do to minimise disruption?

I know that the Minister for Economy and Transport is engaged in this issue already in relation to the concerns the Member has raised.