Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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1406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the membership and role of all Brexit related stakeholder engagement groups working with his Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38846/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Shortly after the UK Referendum result I established a Consultative Committee of Stakeholders, formalising a consultation process that had in fact been commenced some months in advance of the UK referendum. Its purpose has been to assist myself and my Department in assessing the potential impact of Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors and in considering possible responses, and more generally to ensure a full exchange of information between all parties in advance of, and during, the negotiations.

The Committee, which consists of 31 different stakeholder groups (listed below), had its initial meeting in early July 2016, and to date has met four times, most recently on 19 July 2017. It has been complemented by the participation of all of these stakeholders in the All-Island Civic Dialogue process, in respect of which I have hosted four separate sectorial dialogues for the agri-food sector and two further dialogues for the fisheries sector since December 2016.

In addition to these interactions, my Department is also chairing the Agri-Food Sub-Group of the Brexit Economy and Trade Work Group, which in turn is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach in the context of its cross-governmental coordination of the response to Brexit. The Agri-Food Sub-Group considers input from the relevant Departments and State Agencies.

All of these consultations are helping to further inform my approach and that of my Department to the challenges presented by Brexit for the agri-food and fisheries sectors, and will continue to play a vital role in this regard.

List of participants on the Brexit Stakeholder Consultative Committee:

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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1407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Brexit related research currently being undertaken by his Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38878/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has conducted a range of analysis and research activities in relation to Brexit. This work is ongoing, and is primarily concerned with the implications of Brexit for agri-food trade with the UK across different sectors.

For example, both internally and in consultation with the relevant stakeholders through the Brexit Stakeholder Consultative Committee and the All-Island Civic Dialogue process, my Department has established the extent of sectorial reliance on the UK market, the potential implications of Brexit for each sector and the possible responses to the challenges presented. It has also been analysing the potential practical impact on the day-to-day functioning of trade flows, as well as potential WTO tariffs that might be applied to Ireland's agri-food exports to the UK in the event of a 'hard' Brexit.

The agencies reporting to my Department have also undertaken important research in relation to Brexit, with Teagasc publishing reports on, for example, the potential implications for the Irish agri-food sector in overall terms and on the implications for family farm incomes, and Bord Bia conducting important work through its Brexit Barometer.

In addition, my Department is in contact with the relevant agencies and with other Departments to co-ordinate further research on the implications of Brexit for the agri-food industry.