Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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850. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of provisions to ensure that Irish food exports have ready access to European markets post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42059/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Developing increased non-UK market access and furthering trade opportunities abroad continue to be integral parts of my Department’s response to the challenges posed by Brexit.

My Department has been very active in this regard. Encouragingly, exports to our more traditional and existing markets such as other EU Member States exceeded €4 billion in 2019, for the third year running. Notably strong growth was evident in pigmeat, poultry and dairy exports to the EU, with export values increasing to the Netherlands, Italy and Spain in particular.

On the more practical and immediate issue of transiting the UK in order to continue to access markets, firstly I recognise that the UK landbridge is of huge importance in accessing the EU Single Market, and that we may see severe delays in its operation after the end of the transition period. However, goods moving directly between Ireland and elsewhere in the EU will not be subject to any new procedures.

I would therefore urge traders currently using the UK landbridge to consider direct sailings as an alternative. Ferry operators have indicated that capacity is available on direct routes as is evidenced by the recent announcement of a new service with daily sailings from Rosslare to Dunkirk. This is also the view of the Department of Transport and the Irish Marine Development Office. I would encourage early engagement between all parties - traders, hauliers and the ferry companies - to discuss their needs and options.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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851. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he remains satisfied that meat products imported into Ireland post Brexit will be compliant with all EU husbandry, processing and traceability regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42060/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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European Union legislation provides for a set of harmonised rules to ensure that food and feed are safe, and to ensure a high level of human, animal and plant health as well as animal welfare along the agri-food chain.

Primary responsibility for ensuring that the obligations set out in Union agri-food chain legislation are met rests with operators.

The Official Controls Regulation is clear that the responsibility to enforce Union agri-food chain legislation lies with Member States, whose competent authorities monitor and verify, through the organisation of official controls, that relevant Union requirements are effectively complied with and enforced. 

From 1 January 2021, my Department will carry out controls on imports of meat products from Great Britain in accordance with the rules set down in the Official Controls Regulation.

I am satisfied that my Department is well prepared for the changes post-Brexit having invested significantly in staffing, IT and infrastructure to carry out the official controls on all animals and goods entering Ireland from Great Britain after the end of the transition period.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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853. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has in mind plans to compensate families dependent on the fishing industry who may lose out in Brexit discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42062/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy knows, the EU-UK Trade negotiations are ongoing at present and it is therefore not possible to say what, if any, impacts the outcome may have for our seafood industry.  When we know the outcome of those discussions, I will examine the implications, if any, for Ireland's seafood sector and indeed the wider agri-food sector, and discuss Ireland's views with the European Commission and other Member States.

My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme continues to offer financial supports to fishermen, aquaculture enterprises, seafood processors and coastal communities for a broad range of measures, including capital investment, professional advice, innovation, marketing, training and capacity building, fisheries management, and socio-economic development.  Any supports I make available must be within the confines of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation and EU State Aid rules.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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854. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects Irish beef exports to continue unimpeded in the aftermath of Brexit to all destinations or alternative destinations in the loss of some markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42063/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Brexit poses very significant challenges for the Irish beef sector in particular because of its exposure to the UK market.  In value terms, Ireland exported €2.4 billion worth of beef last year, of which Great Britain accounted for €909 million (39%).

If there is no agreement in the EU-UK negotiations, tariffs will apply on exports to and imports from Great Britain. Particularly high rates of tariff rate equivalent, estimated by my Department at 72%, will apply to beef exports, based on the UK Global Tariff as announced.

Even with an agreement, the need to comply with the new customs and regulatory requirements will increase the cost of trade, although every effort is being made by my Department and across Government to ensure the minimum possible disruption to trade flows and supply chains. 

Regardless of Brexit outcomes, the British market remains a priority market for Irish beef. I have had good engagement with key retail and food service customers in Britan, and I know that Ireland's reputation for safe, quality assured grass-fed beef is valued by those customers and by British consumers in general.

 Market diversification efforts have been stepped up considerably by my Department since the Brexit vote in order to mitigate the potential impact of trade disruptions.  Market access or enhanced access for beef has been achieved with a number of third countries in this period including USA, China, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. 

My Department and Bord Bia have led trade missions to key European and international markets, and that effort is continuing, albeit for the moment in terms of 'virtual' trade missions. Bord Bia's funding has been increased to allow for greater investment in market insight and development in priority markets. My own Department's network of agricultural attachés has similarly increased, particularly in Asia, where we now have attachés in the Embassies of Ireland in Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul.

As a result of Brexit uncertainty, exceptional aid payments direct to beef farmers and additional beef schemes were made available in 2019 and 2020. 

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 announced by the European Union 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.