Ireland ‘gateway to EU’ for Australia

Post-Brexit Ireland is pitching itself as a gateway to the EU for Australia because it is the only remaining English-speaking, common-law nation in the European Community.

Irish Trade Minister Simon Coveney says Ireland can become an investment gateway. Picture: AFP

Post-Brexit Ireland is pitching itself as a gateway to the EU for Australia because it is the only remaining English-speaking, common-law nation in the European Community.

As hopes grow within Australia and the EU that after five years of talks an Australia-EU free-trade agreement will be agreed by the middle of the year, Irish Trade Minister Simon Coveney says Ireland can become an investment gateway.

“The EU wants to get a deal done and Australia can build business with Ireland as a gateway,” he said on Monday.

“I would like to see Australia see Ireland as a gateway they can trust, not just for trade but also for political messaging, and that they can see Ireland as a friend in the EU. There is certainly a hope within the EU, where I have been directly involved in negotiations, that a deal can be done this year.”

After meeting Mr Coveney, Trade Minister Don Farrell welcomed Ireland’s support to conclude negotiations by mid-year.

“We will be looking to finalise legal text at the next round of negotiations so we can enter the end-game phase on market access,” he said of a scheduled April meeting. “Australia will only agree to a trade deal that is in our national interest and involves new meaningful market access for our high-quality agricultural products.”

Mr Coveney said Australia should “see Ireland as a friend and a solution on some of the Brexit challenges”.

“It’s easy to work from a language and law perspective,” he said. “Australian companies are increasingly seeing Ireland as a gateway into Europe.

“We are now the only English-speaking common law country in the EU.

“The UK will remain a very important trade and political partner for Australia but I think now Australian companies will invest in Britain for Britain, and if they think to enter the EU single market … Ireland now offers an exciting opportunity.

“It is now more complex to trade with the EU market through Britain than it was. It is a fact and we have to get used to it.”

The EU has already negotiated agreements with Canada and New Zealand on beef and lamb imports to the European market while Australia is still negotiating for more beef exports and the retention of agricultural product names such as feta and prosecco.

The EU wants Australia to drop its luxury car tax.