Niamh Smyth
Question:645. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department's negotiations in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4274/17]
View answerTuesday, 31 January 2017
Questions (645)
Written answers
Formal negotiations in relation to the UK's departure from the EU will not commence until after the UK has made its notification in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. Ireland's negotiating position will be coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach.
From an agri-food perspective, and given the importance of the UK market for the sector, our demand will be for continued free access to the UK market, without tariffs and with minimal additional customs and administrative procedures, and to keep the UK market viable for Irish producers by minimising the risk from UK trade agreements with third countries.
In fisheries, we want to maintain current access to fishing grounds in the UK zone in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and north of Donegal and protect Ireland’s quota share for joint fish stocks.
In the meantime, I and my Department continue to progress our analysis of the likely implications of Brexit, and to further our engagement with stakeholders, UK and Northern Ireland counterparts, Member State colleagues and European institutions. Among the steps taken to date and currently ongoing are:
- a dedicated Brexit unit has been established to co-ordinate all activities;
- a Brexit Response Committee comprised of all relevant Department divisions is now active;
- A Stakeholder Consultative Committee has been established;
- Brexit has been added as a standing item to the agenda of the Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee,
- Close consultation with Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Enterprise Ireland is ongoing - significant additional resources were allocated to Bord Bia and BIM in Budget 2017 in order to provide Brexit-related supports to affected companies;
- Other Budget 2017 supports for the sector included a new €150 million low-cost loan scheme, agri-taxation measures, and increased funding under the Rural Development Programme and Seafood Development Programme;
- The Department is feeding into the overall Government response being co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach;
- I hosted an All Island Civic Dialogue on 15 December, to which interested stakeholders from both sides of the border were invited. It focused on dairy, cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Two further events are planned for 1 February (Fisheries) and 8 February (other agri-food sectors);
- My Department is engaging closely with their NI counterparts through the NSMC and bilateral meetings, including on specific areas of co-operation;
- Political engagement with NI and UK counterparts has also increased, including through my own recent meetings with NI Minister Michelle McIlveen and UK SoS Andrea Leadsom (most recently in Berlin on 22 January 2017).
- At EU level, I am in regular contact with counterparts on the margins of AgriFish Council meetings, and arrangements are currently being made for formal bilateral meetings with key Member States;
- I have also spoken regularly to Commissioner Hogan (most recently on 26 January 2017), and officials have taken part in meetings with the Commission and the Barnier Task Force.
- On the market front, I have met with the CEOs of major UK retailers and I have provided an additional €1.6m for Bord Bia in 2016 and €2m in 2017 to assist it in its efforts to promote Irish food. My Department is also active on third country markets with a view to developing new business opportunities for Irish food companies. In that context I will be leading a trade mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates at the end of this month.
All of the Department’s ongoing activities will continue to be informed by the need to secure the best possible outcome for the Irish agri-food sector. And of course, Ireland will be part of the EU 27 team, and looks forward to working with our fellow Member States in delivering the best possible result for Ireland and for the EU.