Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
45. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to support the food processing industry post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34985/20]
View answerI am fully aware of the significant exposure of our exporting Food & Drinks sector to Brexit. Enterprise Ireland is working intensively with companies in this sector to enable them respond to the challenges they may face when the UK leaves the EU Single Market and Customs Union from 1st January 2021. Since 2016, the effectiveness of these measures by Enterprise Ireland, and in cooperation with Bord Bia in the food and drink sector, has reduced overall indigenous exports to the UK from 35% to 31% in 2019, all the while increasing the overall value of these exports.
Brexit specific assistance will continue to be made available to impacted firms, alongside our focus on innovation and competitiveness. Enterprise Ireland is providing a range of grant and advisory assistance to firms in the food and drink sector, including through its Agile Innovation Fund, R&D Fund, Lean Transform Fund and Operational Excellence Schemes, to help enterprises to diversify their product offering and to reach new markets.
Budget 2021 includes €100 million for my Department to help businesses to adapt to Brexit. Specifically, Specifically €7 million will be provided as part of a targeted fund to help the food processing industry to adapt to the post-Brexit trading environment.
In addition, Ireland has secured approval for a €200m multi-annual scheme from the EU Commission for capital investment in the processing of agricultural products. The objective of this scheme is to strengthen and improve the resilience of primary food processing companies by focusing on long term transformative capital investment and achieving higher value added through implementing new product and/or market diversification strategies.
I am confident that, with the support of our Agencies, our food sector will remain resilient to meet the challenges of any future trading relationship between the EU and the UK.
