Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1123. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date when the request for a support package was made to the European Commission (details supplied); if the request was also submitted to the Brexit preparedness group under the European Commission Taskforce on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom; the EU legislative provision the request was made under; and when the support package will be announced. [18498/19]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body with responsibility for Brexit further to a statement (details supplied); the specific date when the request for a support package was made to the European Commission; if the request was also submitted to the Brexit preparedness group under the European Commission Taskforce on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom; the EU legislative provision the request was made under; and when the support package will be announced. [18499/19]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1138. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific date when the request for a support package was made to the European Commission (details supplied); when the support package will be announced; and the EU legislative provision the request was made under. [18495/19]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1139. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has formally made a request to the European Commission under EU Regulation No. 702/2014 following confirmation that a support package is being discussed with the EU for the agrifood sector even if the UK does not leave the EU (details supplied); if so, when the application was made; and when the support package will be announced. [18496/19]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1140. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has formally made a request to the European Commission under Article 219 of EU Regulation 1308/2013 following confirmation that a support package is being discussed with the EU for the agrifood sector even if the UK does not leave the EU (details supplied); if so, when the application was made; and when the support package will be announced. [18497/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1123, 1124 and 1138 to 1140, inclusive, together.

The agri-food sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular. Brexit has the potential to have a very significant impact on the sector, given its unique exposure to the UK market, which accounted for 38% (€5.2 billion) of agri-food exports last year.

There are on-going discussions with the Commission regarding the difficulties which would face Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit, and the assistance that might be required for its agriculture food and fishery sectors. Avoiding a no-deal Brexit continues to be the Government’s overriding policy priority.

I have held a number of discussions with Commissioner Hogan regarding the potential impact of a disorderly Brexit on the sector. I have stressed the need for the Commission to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on agri-food and fisheries, including through traditional market supports and exceptional aid under the CAP's Single Common Market Organisation regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013) , as well increased flexibility under State Aid regulations.

However, it is also important to acknowledge that the past few months have been very difficult for beef farmers in particular, following a difficult year in 2018 due to weather conditions. There has been a prolonged and exceptional period of depressed prices since last autumn, with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the outcome of Brexit, among other factors, contributing to this market disturbance.

In light of the on-going depressed market prices, I have, in discussions with Commissioner Hogan and my EU counterparts, said that I believe that the deployment of exceptional measures under the CMO Regulation, to provide targeted aid to farm families who have suffered a sustained reduction in returns from the market, is now required. I made an intervention to this effect at the April meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers, and my officials have followed this up with a detailed submission, which is under consideration by Commission officials.