Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy's constituents that I am very much aware of the importance of agriculture and the agrifood industry to the economy in terms of the number of jobs supported, its particular importance to the rural economy and the substantial revenue brought into the country as a result of agricultural exports. The Government is very much behind the industry in every way it can be.

Regarding Brexit, it is one of our absolute priorities that we maintain free trade in goods and services between Britain and Ireland, ideally through Britain and the UK staying in the customs union and the Single Market - in light of the election that may even be a possibility again - or, if not, negotiating a free trade agreement that continues to allow for free trade in agricultural and food products after Britain leaves the European Union.

It is something with which we are very engaged. Just yesterday, the Tánaiste met Mr. Michel Barnier and again impressed on him our strong view that we need to retain the closest possible trading relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom. I had phone calls with the Scottish First Minister and the Welsh First Minister, who both articulated to me their view - the view of Scotland and the view of Wales - that, even if Britain does leave the European Union, they should stay in the Single Market and should stay in the customs union. They endeavoured to push that view in Westminster and in London that Britain should stay in the customs union and Single Market. I endeavoured at European level to keep the door open to Britain to stay in the customs union and Single Market. Should it be willing to do so, we will keep that door open. In the absence of that, if Britain insists on leaving the customs union and the Single Market, we will advocate very strongly for a free trade agreement between the EU and the UK that maintains free trade in agricultural products and food products, thus minimising the impact on our farmers and on our food industry.

In terms of tillage, I had a discussion this morning with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this matter. I am very aware that the harvest in 2016 was very poor for our tillage farmers. As a result of that, the Government has decided to set aside €1.5 million, which will be a compensation scheme to be put in place for tillage farmers badly affected by the poor harvest in 2016. The exact detail of that scheme is yet to be worked out. The Minister, Deputy Creed, is very willing to meet the IFA and to discuss the details of that scheme with it-----

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