Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

786. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date for the next meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in sectorial format, as provided for in the North-South Ministerial Council; the issues to be discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22862/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The next North-South Ministerial Agriculture Sectorial meeting is scheduled to take place in the autumn. The agreed Agriculture work programme under the North South Ministerial Council includes co-operation in relation to:

- the development of an All-Island Animal Health Strategy for control of animal movements and the prevention, containment and eradication of epizootic diseases in Ireland;

- the development of an All-Island Plant Health and Research Strategy including co-operation between both jurisdictions in relation to plant protection products; and

- issues arising at WTO, EU and CAP reform.

There is also co-operation in other areas of common interest as specific matters arise. As agreed at the recent NSMC Plenary, my Department is conducting a full audit of all areas of co-operation to identify the possible impacts and implications of the UKs withdrawal from the EU. The outcomes of this audit will be submitted to the NSMC Agriculture Sectorial meeting for consideration and final priorities will be agreed by the next NSMC Plenary for both pre-negotiation and negotiation phases.

I will be working very closely with my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister Michelle McIlveen, with a view to ensuring our Departments work well together in the coming months in the best interests of farmers and the wider industry.