Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1621. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the immediate steps being taken to safeguard Irish agrifood jobs in light of several closures recently attributed to the currency changes post the Brexit vote in the UK. [26391/16]

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

While we await further details from the UK Government on how it will conduct its exit negotiations with the EU, the most immediate concerns from an economy-wide perspective, and particularly from an agri-food viewpoint, are indeed those arising from Euro-Sterling exchange rate changes. I note the recent closures and job-losses that have been attributed to these changes, and I am of course also concerned about the potential for further impacts if a sustained period of currency volatility is experienced. In that regard, in the immediate aftermath of the UK vote, I asked the relevant agencies, including Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, to provide practical guidance to SMEs. Bord Bia has already announced a number of measures to support food and drink businesses. These measures cover areas such as managing volatility impacts, providing consumer and market insight, deepening customer engagement and extending market reach, with the aim of helping companies maintain their competitiveness. Similar support is also being provided by Enterprise Ireland. I am in close contact with the agencies on this matter. I have also established a consultative committee composed of stakeholders, officials and experts to provide guidance in respect of the exit negotiations to come.