James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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948. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the post Brexit contingency plans in place for future agrifood trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34403/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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It is difficult at this juncture to anticipate what the post-Brexit trading relationship between the EU and the UK will be. However, given the very significant potential implications for the Irish agrifood sector, I have made it very clear that our key asks from the negotiations are:

- continued unfettered access to the UK market, without tariffs and with minimal additional customs and administrative procedures;

- to minimise the risk from UK trade agreements with third countries prohibit the UK market from engaging in trade agreements third countries, for example by having the EU and UK move forward in parallel on trade policy after Brexit; and

- in fisheries, we want to maintain current access to fishing grounds in the UK zone in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and north of Donegal and protect Ireland’s quota share for joint fish stocks. 

In the meantime I, my Department and our Agencies have been engaging in a process of analysis, consultation and engagement so that we are best placed to both influence the negotiations and also to deal with whatever outcome the negotiations present.

I have already put in place measures to mitigate the short-term impacts arising from the fall in the value of sterling against the euro. These include the €150 million low interest agri-loan scheme and additional funding to Bord Bia to allow it to support businesses most severely impacted by these currency effects, including through its new Brexit Barometer service.

From a longer-term perspective, my Department is continuing to deepen its analysis of the potential implications of Brexit arising from, for example, tariffs on trade, border controls and certification, and divergence in regulations and standards between the UK and the EU.  We have also intensified our consultations with the industry through the Stakeholder Consultative Committee and the All-Island Civic Dialogue process. And we have engaged comprehensively with our Member State counterparts, with the Commission and with the Barnier Task Force in order to ensure that the implications for the agrifood sector are fully understood and remain at the top of the EU agenda. 

We have also been putting significant effort into our market diversification work with the aim of reducing our dependence on the UK market for agrifood exports. For example, I have led trade missions recently to South East Asia, the Gulf region, and to the United States and Mexico in order to develop market opportunities, and further missions will be undertaken during the remainder of 2017.

While I am still hopeful that the outcome of the negotiations will be positive for both the EU and the UK, I and my Department will continue to remain very focused on supporting the agrifood industry through the challenges ahead.