Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

583. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to further strengthen the Brexit contingency fund announced in budget 2020 (details supplied) in order that these funds are supplemented in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29588/20]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

589. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of measures he is taking to further strengthening the Brexit contingency fund announced in budget 2020, which allocated €110 million to agriculture in order that these funds are supplemented in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29621/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 589 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 and Teagasc, direct aid for farmers and capital funding for the food industry.

The impact of Brexit on the agricultural sector is being kept under ongoing review. In this regard the Government’s Brexit Readiness Action Plan, published last month, 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 Heads of State and Government, which includes a €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for those Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. I will work to ensure that the agrifood sector gets an adequate allocation from that funding.

Decisions on funding for my Department for 2021 will be made in the context of the Annual Budgetary process.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

584. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to support all sectors adversely affected by the Brexit outcome through the €5 billion EU Brexit adjustment reserve fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29589/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the agreement reached in July on the Multiannual Financial Framework, which included a €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. This is a new Reserve, and the particulars of how it will be distributed will be agreed after the Commission has presented their proposals for the Reserve by November 2020.

It is important to recognise the disproportionate impact Brexit will have on Ireland, and especially on the Irish agrifood sector. Ireland exported €5.47 billion of agrifood produce to the UK in 2019, which represents 38% of the total Irish agrifood exports in 2019. The UK also remains our largest import market with imports of €4.6 billion in 2019.

This trade is going to be impacted by the customs and regulatory costs that will apply from 1 January 2021. It is important that all operators understand that these requirements will apply whether there is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or not. Additionally, there is a serious potential impact from the EU and UK tariff schedules which would be imposed on trade between Ireland and Great Britain if a FTA that provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas is not agreed between the EU and the UK.

My Department has put in place financial and budgetary measures to help the agrifood and fisheries sectors meet the Brexit challenges they have faced to date. These measures were aimed at enhancing competitiveness and market and product diversification and included low cost loan schemes, supports for Bord Bia and Teagasc, direct aid for farmers and capital funding for the food industry.

The Government's Brexit Readiness Action Plan makes it clear that further measures to support businesses and affected sectors will be considered in the coming months.

The Brexit Adjustment Reserve will be an important additional support for those adjusting to the new reality of trading with the UK as a third country. Every effort will be made to ensure that the agrifood sector gets a fair allocation from this Reserve that is commensurate with the impact on the sector.