Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can assure the Deputy that I understand only too well the pressures of the beef sector. I chaired a beef forum for a number of years and I know the personalities in the sector well on the factory side and on the farm side. We have supported and will continue to support the beef sector through the rural development programme, where we have invested €300 million in the current development programme to support the suckler sector. Another €20 million was announced in the last budget and another €25 million was added to the area of natural constraint, ANC, payments, primarily focused on beef suckler farmers. The Government has not and will not be found wanting in support for this sector, especially when there are pressures from outside, such as those decisions we do not control that are linked to Brexit.

On the Deputy's question, I do not believe it would make any sense for us to restructure the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine right now, with regard to the fish sector. There have been conversations and preparations under way for many months around Brexit and that Department has focused on the pressures and vulnerabilities for both fishermen and farmers. The idea that we would go through some kind of restructure now with 36 days to go to a no-deal Brexit would not make any sense. That is about as polite I can be about that.

I have had the discussion with the Taoiseach and with others at different times on whether we should separate the fishing portfolio from agriculture. Having thought about it I do not think we should. It is the food sector and I believe that fishing in particular is enhanced in its representation around the Cabinet table by being linked to the broader food sector, especially when it comes to exports and Brexit, with the potential need for compensation packages and EU intervention in both sectors to ensure they can survive should we have a worst-case scenario of a no-deal Brexit. Incidentally, I do not believe it will happen but if it did, we would need to be ready and we have a Department that is working night and day to put contingency plans in place should it come to that. The idea that we would restructure and change our personalities at this late stage is not a decision we should be taking now.

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