Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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160. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he can continue to support producers in Northern Ireland in his capacity as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine at Council of Ministers' meetings post-Brexit, with particular reference to the need to ensure the minimum disruption to all aspects of the industry on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32479/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Following the UK referendum I have been and will continue to work very closely with my NI counterpart Michelle McIlveen and DAERA to ensure that the best possible outcome is achieved for our agri-food producers that will be of benefit to producers on both sides of the border. 

On a more general note, both I and my Department officials  are very aware of the potential disruption to the agri-food sector from an all island perspective and have been working closely with our Northern Ireland counterparts since the outcome of the referendum result, with this in mind.  At the North South Ministerial Council Plenary Summit in Dublin in July, Ministers agreed on ten specific actions to optimise North-South joint planning and engagement on key issues arising as a result of the referendum.  The ten-point plan includes a full audit of key North-South risks and likely impacts and this work is already underway across all Government Departments.  I also held discussions with Northern Ireland Minister Michelle McIlveen at the Plenary Summit in July and this was followed by a meeting of senior officials from DAFM and DAERA, later that month for an initial exchange of views on the implications of Brexit for the agri-food sector.

A further meeting was held between the Secretary General of my Department and the Permanent Secretary of DAERA on the 4th October.  Following this meeting, both Departments are currently putting together a joint work programme that will form the basis for ongoing co-operation over the coming months.