Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The importance of the UK market to the agrifood sector has been well rehearsed. Some €4.5 billion in agrifood exports, including more than 50% of our beef and one third of our dairy exports, go to the United Kingdom. Of concern is a recent report that indicated that almost 80% of employment in the food and beverages sector was based outside Dublin. As well as the need for as strong a response to Brexit as possible, this serves to emphasise the importance of the UK market to job creation in the regions where it is more difficult to create employment and which have suffered, in particular. The Minister indicated that a consultative committee on Brexit had been established in his Department. However, it has only met twice. Given the importance of the issue, that there have only been two meetings is inexplicable. Why has it not met more?

The Minister indicated in his response today that the €150 million loan and the tax changes in the budget were related to the Brexit response but that fund was primarily driven at European level because of the pressures already being experienced in relation to a livestock crisis. As such, it is not directly related to Brexit.

We have not, unfortunately, had the immediate response required from Government to aid the sectors, particularly the mushroom sector, that are under intense pressure. In regard to the mushroom sector and the other sectors that are particularly exposed, what are the immediate supports the Minister is planning to put in place to ensure they are not put out of business?

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