Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that his Department has in place to mitigate the potential impact of new European Union-UK trade tariffs on the Irish agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26844/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which sets out the detailed provisions governing the new trading relationship between the UK and the EU after Brexit, maintained tariff-free access for all goods traded between the UK and the EU.

This was a positive outcome of the TCA negotiations, in particular in respect of trade in agricultural goods, as the imposition of tariffs on these goods would have added considerable costs for Irish exporters to the UK.

The recent announcement by the UK Government of its intention to table legislation which could have the effect of unilaterally disapplying elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol was a very unwelcome development.  Any such unilateral action by the UK Government would be a breach of an international treaty that it signed up to. 

There are clearly other options open to the UK, and the Irish Government continues to urge it to engage with the EU in order to find agreed solutions.  It is only through dialogue that the UK government and the EU can find solutions that work for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland. 

It also worth noting that Ireland continues to have the full solidarity and support of all EU countries, which underlines the EU unity in its commitment to Northern Ireland.

The European Union is preparing options to respond if the UK government goes ahead with plans to unilaterally override Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit arrangements, and we will assess these options as they emerge.

I assure the Deputy that if any measures proposed would lead to negative consequences for the Irish agri-food sector, the Government will be ready to support the sector in addressing these impacts.