Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
584. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to support all sectors adversely affected by the Brexit outcome through the €5 billion EU Brexit adjustment reserve fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29589/20]
View answerI welcome the agreement reached in July on the Multiannual Financial Framework, which included a €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. This is a new Reserve, and the particulars of how it will be distributed will be agreed after the Commission has presented their proposals for the Reserve by November 2020.
It is important to recognise the disproportionate impact Brexit will have on Ireland, and especially on the Irish agrifood sector. Ireland exported €5.47 billion of agrifood produce to the UK in 2019, which represents 38% of the total Irish agrifood exports in 2019. The UK also remains our largest import market with imports of €4.6 billion in 2019.
This trade is going to be impacted by the customs and regulatory costs that will apply from 1 January 2021. It is important that all operators understand that these requirements will apply whether there is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or not. Additionally, there is a serious potential impact from the EU and UK tariff schedules which would be imposed on trade between Ireland and Great Britain if a FTA that provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas is not agreed between the EU and the UK.
My Department has put in place financial and budgetary measures to help the agrifood and fisheries sectors meet the Brexit challenges they have faced to date. These measures were aimed at enhancing competitiveness and market and product diversification and included low cost loan schemes, supports for Bord Bia and Teagasc, direct aid for farmers and capital funding for the food industry.
The Government's Brexit Readiness Action Plan makes it clear that further measures to support businesses and affected sectors will be considered in the coming months.
The Brexit Adjustment Reserve will be an important additional support for those adjusting to the new reality of trading with the UK as a third country. Every effort will be made to ensure that the agrifood sector gets a fair allocation from this Reserve that is commensurate with the impact on the sector.
