Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking to assist food producers develop and diversify post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60834/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The outcome of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which has seen the UK leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union, inevitably has presented significant challenges for Irish agri-food businesses trading with the UK.

However, the fact that tariff-free trading arrangements have been able to continue on foot of the Agreement has been a real positive, and it is evident that the value of trade with the UK has held up well over the course of 2021.

My Department and its agencies remain focused on maximising the value of Irish agri-food exports by supporting our existing UK trade, as well as supporting further diversification into EU and third country markets.

We continue to invest hugely in measures aimed at achieving these goals. This has seen significant additional funding being provided to Bord Bia over the last number of budgets, and targeted at the latter's extensive marketing and promotional activities on priority markets. It is also targeted at providing support to individual companies that are establishing and expanding their presence in international markets.

My Department also continues to be active in opening up new opportunities in third country markets through our Trade Mission programme and through key direct customer engagements. We have maintained these activities despite the restrictions associated with the pandemic through the use of virtual formats.

This year to date we have had virtual trade missions focused on Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore and West Africa, as well as on our traditional markets in the EU, UK and US. For 2022 we are planning a schedule of extensive in-person Trade Missions to a number of key priority markets.

My Department also continues to work on the opportunities provided by recent EU Free Trade Agreements with third countries, and to press at Government-to-Government level for the removal of technical market access barriers across a range of third country markets.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives that are being taken to assist agri-food businesses deal with the effect of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60789/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of the UK no longer being in the EU Single Market and Customs Union, the trading environment for Irish businesses, including agri-food businesses, has changed significantly. The Government, and my Department in particular, has been working in close collaboration with the sector to prepare for these changes.

There has been extensive investment in developing the systems and infrastructure needed to support the sector in meeting new import and export requirements which apply to trade with UK since 1 January 2021. This work continues and is now focused on new UK controls which will be applied to Irish exports in 2022.

In addition to these preparations the Government has provided access to a range of financial support measures to assist businesses in adapting to Brexit challenges.

Most recently, on 15 October, along with Government colleagues, I launched the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme, which makes up to €330 million in lending available to eligible businesses in Ireland, including farmers and the seafood sector. Earlier this year, a €14 million Capital Investment Scheme was made available to support the food processing industry, and the Government has, of course, continued to provide additional funding to Bord Bia over successive budgets in recent years to assist the industry in pursuing market diversification opportunities.

These support measures, and the significant investment in preparing for the changes to the UK-EU trading environment, clearly demonstrate the Government's commitment to support the agri-food sector in adapting to the effects of Brexit and to support the sector's ambition to grow despite the challenges associated with Brexit.