Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I tried to convey in my opening response, the two elements of the Deputy's question deal with CAP market disturbance funding and the state aid de minimisprocess. We have delivered to the agrifood sector under both headings. For example, the €150 million loan fund was partially under the de minimisprocess at sectors that were not covered under the CAP market disturbance funding. Sectors such as the mushroom and tillage sector were included in that de minimisaid process. Dairy and other livestock sectors were included in the CAP market disturbance funding. We have benefitted under both.

I appreciate from where the Deputy is coming in respect of trying to get the best possible deal in the Brexit context. We are particularly anxious to avoid a position where Irish agrifood or even the Irish economy in general with regard to concerns over Brexit are dealt with in a cheque book fashion. In other words, this is what could be lasting structural difficulties for us as a trading economy, North-South as well as east-west with the UK, being seen as open to resolution through the writing of a cheque of compensation. We are anxious to secure a solution that is long term, viable and allows us to maintain our current trading relationship with the UK as it exits the European Union.

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