Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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186. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a comprehensive package of market supports and direct aid from the EU will be made available to farmers to cover the cost a hard Brexit and the losses already incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8656/19]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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187. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether current EU intervention and APS support measures are not adequate; the additional measures sought in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8657/19]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that the EU provide support of €20 per animal for each 5 cent per kg price drop with the onset of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8660/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 187 and 190 together.

I and my officials have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise other Member States and the European Commission to the potentially very severe impacts of Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors, and to the likelihood of specific supports being required in order to deal with these impacts. The institutions of the European Union are very well aware of the likelihood of a significant impact of a disorderly Brexit on Ireland’s economy because this has been part of the discussion from the beginning, and indeed this is explicitly recognised in the Commission’s own communication on contingency planning.

Most recently, I held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Hogan to discuss the potential impact of a disorderly Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors. We discussed the unique exposure of these sectors to the threat of a disorderly Brexit, and the challenges that it could present. I stressed the need to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on farmers and the food industry, including through traditional market supports such as intervention and Aids to Private Storage (APS); and also through exceptional aid under the CAP's Single Common Market Organisation regulation; as well as increased flexibility under State Aid regulations. Commissioner Hogan reiterated the EU’s readiness to respond and support Ireland, and we will remain in contact on these issues as the situation evolves.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the new market disturbance measures under EU Regulation 1308/13, Article 219/221 are required in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8658/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I and my officials have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise other Member States and the European Commission to the potentially very severe impacts of Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors, and to the likelihood of specific supports, including exceptional reasons under EU Regulation 1308/13, being required in order to deal with these impacts. The institutions of the European Union are very well aware of the likelihood of a significant impact of a disorderly Brexit on Ireland’s economy because this has been part of the discussion from the beginning, and indeed this is explicitly recognised in the Commission’s own communication on contingency planning.

Most recently, I held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Hogan at the end of January to discuss the potential impact of a disorderly Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors. We discussed the unique exposure of these sectors to the threat of a disorderly Brexit, and the challenges that it could present. I stressed the need to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on farmers and processors, including through traditional market supports and exceptional aid under the CAP's Single Common Market Organisation regulation, and increased flexibility under State Aid regulations. Commissioner Hogan reiterated the EU’s readiness to respond and support Ireland, and we will remain in contact on these issues.

Subsequently there was a meeting between officials from my Department and from the Commission to explore possible support measures that may be required in the event of a no deal Brexit on 29 March 2019. The officials will remain in contact on these issues as the situation evolves.