Written answers

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Industry

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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582. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide compensation for further losses during the transition period in view of Brexit uncertainty, the volatility of sterling and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across all agricultural sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29587/20]

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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588. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of plans to provide compensation for further losses during the transition period arising from Brexit uncertainty, sterling volatility and Covid-19 impact, across all agricultural sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29620/20]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 588 together.

My Department's Brexit preparedness work has resulted in various supports being introduced over successive budgets to help the agrifood and fisheries sectors mitigate the impact of Brexit. These measures were aimed at enhancing competitiveness and market and product diversification and included low cost loan schemes, supports for Bord Bia, BIM and Teagasc, direct aid for farmers and capital funding for the food industry.

More recently, my Department launched the €50 million Beef Finisher Payment Scheme to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland that have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, while supports were also made available to fishermen over the period June to August to tie-up their vessels for up to two months during periods of Covid related market disturbance.

These impacts on the agricultural sector will be kept under ongoing review. Last month's BrexitReadiness Action Plan confirms that further measures to support affected sectors will be considered over the coming months. I also welcome the Multi-Annual Financial Framework agreement reached in July by EU Heads of State and Government, which includes a €5 Billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for those Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. We will work to ensure that the agrifood sector gets an adequate allocation from that funding.

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