Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK are currently underway and have not concluded. The Preparedness Unit referred to by the Deputy is not a vehicle for making the kind of application to which the Deputy refers.
Nonetheless, my Department has been involved in preparations for Brexit for some time now and has contributed its views into the whole of Government Brexit process which inform Ireland's engagement with the Article 50 Taskforce.
In addition, supports have been put in place to support the agri food sector domestically. In Budget 2017 these included a €150 million low-cost loan scheme in budget 2017, new agri-taxation measures and increased funding under the Rural Development and Seafood Development Programmes. In budget 2018, the Government provided funding to support a new €300m “Brexit Loan Scheme” at least 40% of which will be available to food businesses, and €25m for a loan scheme for farmers and fishermen.
Since the final quarter of 2016 an additional €14.5m has been provided for Bord Bia to support market insight and prioritisation, approval has been given for the development of a new Food Innovation Hub in Moorepark (€8.8m overall) and a capital investment fund has been made available, through Enterprise Ireland, for the Prepared Consumer Foods Sector.
My Department is continuing to engage with other Government Departments with a view to keeping the Taskforce advised of potential threats or obstacles to Irish farmers, fishermen and the agri-food industry. At Government level we have ensured that there is already a very strong appreciation in relevant EU institutions, including the Budget and Agriculture Directorates, of the significant and unique impacts of Brexit on Ireland, and on its agri food sector in particular.
We will continue to work closely with the Commission to ensure that Ireland's interests continue to be taken into account as the Brexit process unfolds.
