Written answers
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Horticulture Sector
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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932. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times and the specific dates on which he or his Department has formally requested the European Commission to allow for a derogation or temporary derogation to facilitate the import of seed potatoes from the UK, in particular from Scotland, since the introduction of a post-Brexit ban on the import of UK seed potatoes after 1 January 2021; if he or his Department has further sought a derogation in light of the Windsor Framework in March 2023 which enabled the resumption of trade in seed potatoes into Northern Ireland; if he is aware that the Canary Islands currently imports UK and in particular Scottish seed potatoes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13675/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) sets out basis for EU-UK trade post Brexit and confirms UK decision be outside of EU Single Market and therefore UK is considered a 3rd country by EU.
The EU Commission has made clear that unless there is dynamic alignment with EU plant health standards seed potatoes originating from GB can no longer be imported into the EU. My Department has not made any formal request to the European Commission seeking a derogation temporary or otherwise from the EU-UK TCA provisions. This position is a consequence of UK Government decision to exit EU and EU Single market.
In respect of Windsor Framework provisions they are targeted at addressing NI related issues and it is not be possible or appropriate to seek any extension of these provisions to Ireland.
The Canary Islands have a unique status within the EU as an over sea territory, and in the context of EU plant health law are considered outside the EU and not subject to the EU plant health Regulation. They apply their own plant health standards and are treated as a third country in terms of phytosanitary access to the EU.
It is clear that UK Government Brexit decisions have presented a significant challenge for Irish potato growers. My Department has been active in supporting the sector in adapting to the new EU-UK trading environment and supporting development the Irish seed potato sector. In this context I launched the 2022 Seed Potato Scheme which carried over into 2023 to the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato Sector and the Chipping Potato Sector. These Schemes provided for €4.6m of funding to support the development of the sector.
There is great potential in continuing to revive the domestic seed potato sector and I can assure Deputy that I am committed to seeing it thrive.
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